"Young men and women of the city, when coming of age, participate in a ceremony which involves the swearing of oaths, and the sharing of bread, fire and salt. In this ceremony the Home Stone of the city is held by each young person and kissed. Only then are the laurel wreath and the mantle of citizenship conferred. This is a moment no young person of Ar forgets. The youth of Earth have no Home Stone.

Citizenship, interestingly, in most Gorean cities is conferred only upon the coming of age, and only after certain examinations are passed. Further, the youth of Gor, in most cities, must be vouched for by citizens of the city, not related in blood to him, and be questioned before a committee of citizens, intent upon determining his worthiness or lack thereof to take the Home Stone of the city as his own.

Citizenship in most Gorean communities is not something accrued in virtue of the accident of birth but earned in virtue of intent and application. The sharing of a Home Stone is no light thing in a Gorean city."

"Slave Girl of Gor Book 11 Page 394"

The issue of citizenship is something that is often overlooked when discussing the Gorean lifestyle and the philosophies that anchor it. While honor and natural order immediately spring to the lips when asked to define the Gorean lifestyle, rarely does one speak of the priveledge and responsibilities of citizenship. In reading and re-reading (and re-re-reading) the books, it becomes apparent that while this is something that Norman’s Gorean people accepted as a part of Gorean life, that it is something we often forget.

There are two points brought out in this one quote. The first is that for free men and women, citizenship was not an "entitlement" as it is in our society today. It was something that was earned. Only after examinations were passed and the youth was questioned and vouched for, was he or she deemed a citizen of that city.

The second point is that with the priveledge of citizenship and all the rights implied, came a responsibility. An obligation to be a productive member of that society. Throughout the books, I read a strong sense of duty on the part of each free person, male or female, an obligation to carry their own weight in exchange for the right to be regarded as a citizen of that city. This was accomplished by each working within their caste.

I think Citizenship is one of the most essential tenets of the Gorean lifestyle. It is also one that is often misunderstood by newcomers. Having read the books or a website or two does not guarantee automatic acceptance. It is not enough to step up and proclaim, "I am Gorean!" One must prove it. Prove that their intent is serious and sincere. Prove that they are what they say they are. Until a Gorean is sure of a stranger’s intent, he will be treated with a degree of caution. While not necessarily rude, we tend to hold strangers at arm’s length until we have formed an opinion as to their sincerity. Our trust, is with anything worth earning, is hard won.

However, once a person has been accepted into the Gorean community, I believe he has a duty to contribute in some positive way. Just as we have a civic duty to the local community in which we live, we also have a duty to the Gorean community. Those of us who call ourselves Goreans have an obligation to protect and promote the truths around which we center our lives. I know that for myself, I had been exposed to Gor for almost a year before I truly believed I had earned the right to call myself a Gorean woman. With that right, came an almost overwhelming sense of duty to "give back" to the teachings around which I structure my life. Gor is my anchor. It affects every area of my life from my interactions with friends and employees to the way I relate to my family. Because of this, my need to somehow "repay" that debt is also a constant.

I consider myself lucky to have discovered Gor at a time when the ratio of Goreans to Players was much higher than it is today. I learned the tenets of this lifestyle from those who live it day to day. I had the priveledge of being one of a very few new ones in a group of Goreans who were gracious enough to answer my countless questions and teach me by their example. The debt I owe them is immeasurable. And it is one I strive each day to repay, through my writings, and the time I spend answering questions and guiding those who are new to the places where they will learn the truths. This is not a job, nor is it something I do expecting any sort of repayment. It is my responsibility as a citizen of this community.

I wish you well,

Dangrus

Kiera knelt on the stone floor, with her knees spread and her eyes downcast. Her sharp ears had picked up the sound of her Master approaching the apartment. She smoothed down her silk hoping to rid it of any creases that might spoil the appearance. She had earlier spent a happy hour putting on her makeup and brushing out her long, dark hair so that when he saw her she would be an exquisite feast for his eyes. He had occasionally seemed troubled over the last few weeks. Although she knew he would not talk to her about his worries she hoped in some small way to be able to comfort him. She had looked forward to his return all afternoon and was eager to greet him. She heard his key turn in the lock.

Her Master approached her slowly. Her breath quickened as he did, she fearing that in some little detail she might be seen as displeasing. As he reached her she put her head down to his feet and kissed them lovingly. He motioned that she was allowed to remove his sandals and she did so. She the kissed his feet again. "Greetings, my Master," she said.

"Greetings, Kiera," he replied, "It is good to see that you have made yourself pleasing for me." She smiled, happy that her efforts had not gine unnoticed. "However, I hope that in your desire to make yourself pretty, vain slave, that you have not neglected your other duties about the house," he said. "No Master!" cried Kiera, horified that her Master should suspect such a thing, "Kiera has done all her household duties as instructed!"

"Then her Master is well pleased with his slave," said Marcus, smiling down upon her, "Serve me wine, Kiera, I have had a long and trying day."

Kiera nodded and rose to her feet gracefully. She ran, using little steps, rising to her toes to the small kitchen in their quarters. She located the wine that her Master had ordered her to buy, a red Kalana, of a fine vintage. She found her Master’s goblet and filled it. She then made her way back to where her Master had sat down, in the great curule chair in the main room. She moved gracefully with light steps, always paying attention not to spill any of the wine. She remembered, back when she had been a new slave and clumsy and had often been beaten for spilling items which she had been ordered to serve. But that was behind her now. She was fairly well trained, having been a slave for over two years.

Kiera knelt before her Master in the open-kneed position befitting a pleasure slave. She slowly brought the cup to her belly and pressed it in there, feeling the chill of the cold metal as she did so. Not daring to meet her Master’s eyes she lifted the cup to her lips and pressed it there. She kissed it lingeringly and then offered it to him, arms extended, head down. "Wine, Master?" she asked. In answer, he took the cup from her and put it to his own lips.

He sat, sipping at his wine, silently regarding the lovely slave girl at his feet. Kiera that he looked troubled and in some ways, sad. She knelt there gently stroking his leg with her small, fair hand. She did not speak either as she had not been given permission and in her Master’s present mood she feared to displease him. For long minutes they sat there in silence. Finally, Marcus spoke. "Kiera," he asked, looking pensive, "are you happy being my slave?" "Oh, yes Master," Kiera replied, "I love you, my Master." Kiera had been owned by several Masters since coming to Gor, and she had loved them all with the helpless love of a

slave girl. But there was something very different in her love for her present Master. As soon as she had looked into his eyes she felt something very special between them. She had thought that perhaps he was the perfect love Master of whom she had heard other girls speak. He too, did not seem unenamoured of her. He had certainly kept her for some time now and had not bought other girls to serve him. Too, he was quite jealous of her and had never shared her among his fellows.

"I care for you, Kiera," he said suddenly, "In fact, I love you." This has been troubling me, Kiera, I have considered selling you," he stated. Kiera put her head down tears suddenly rising up in her. She did not want Marcus to sell her and she realised that if that was what his decision was there would be nothing she could do about it. He put his hand down and raised her chin to look into her eyes and the tears which were now coursing down her face. "Kiera," he said, "I must take a Free Companion, someday, you have known this. "I want to have children and the desire has recently grown strong in me." "But," he said morosely, "I can only love one woman and that is you." I have thought long and hard about this and there seems to be only one way around this," he said. "Kiera, I want to free you and take you as my Free Companion so that we can have children together," he said looking intently into her eyes.

Kiera felt shock such as she had never felt before. Gorean men did not free Earth girls such as she. She could not believe what she was hearing. Deep within her she rebelled against being again a free woman. "But Master," she said,"My ears are pierced, I am branded, I am a slave girl!" How could I be anything other than that?"

"Kiera, this is known to me," her Master said nodding, "But I will have no other to bear my children. I love you and you alone. I could not touch another woman when you were still here and I could not bear to take a Free Companion knowing she would be cruel to you. This is the only way we can be together. If you cannot accept me then I must rid myself of you. Do you not love me too?"

"Yes Master, I love you very much," wept Kiera, "But I love you with the love of a slave girl, not a free woman. I would do you dishonour, Master. If you have the desire for children can you not simply free me to bear them and then re-enslave me?"

"No!" said Marcus, slamming his fist down upon the arm of the chair, "I will not participate in such mockery, Kiera. I will have you as my Free Companion properly or not at all. My children will need a mother!" He rose and went to the cabinet in the corner of the room and opened it. From within he drew a small key. "I will free you Kiera, so that you may make this choice," said Marcus. "I want you to choose me of your own free will." "And if I don’t, Master?" asked Kiera, her eyes red with sobbing. "Then I must send you away, replied Marcus, looking weary. "As a slave," said Kiera, her eyes flashing with anger, "What kind of a choice is that?" "No," said Marcus, "you will remain a free woman whatever you choose."

Kiera knew that in reality this meant little on Gor. She did not posess a Home Stone and as such was fair quarry for any Gorean who might wish to re-enslave her.

Marcus unlocked the collar from Kiera’s neck. "I free you Kiera, and I ask that you become my Free Companion and bear my children," he said earnestly, "I love you and I can make you happy." "Will you consent to be my Free Companion?"

She looked down upon him. He had dropped to one knee to ask this of her. "Yes Master," she sobbed, "if that is your will." Kiera knew in her heart that this was all wrong, but she could not bear to lose Marcus completely.

"No," he said tenderly, "not Master, but Marcus, and I want it to be of your will, not mine." "Yes Marcus," she said timidly, half fearing to be struck for such insolence. "I know that it is going to be difficult for you, my dear, but it is said that within the heart of every woman lies both a slave girl and a Free Companion. You will get used to it and be able to love me this way."

Kiera nodded, although she doubted very much his words. Since her earliest memories she had felt like a slave. Her fantasies were always about strong men doing what they pleased to her and her submitting to this, gratefully. She did not believe that within her heart lay a Free Companion.

"I have bought you suitable robes, my dear," said Marcus, "for I dared to hope you might accept me. I will bring them to you." He rose and Kiera felt a pang of guilt. He was clearly serving her in this. She noticed that while he had been talking to her she had pressed her knees closely together, defensilvely. She widened them again hoping to please him with this behaviour. He re-entered holding a package. "No, Kiera!" he exclaimed. She looked at him uncomprehendingly, puzzled by his outburst. "You must not kneel like that any more!" he chided, "You are a free woman." Kiera reddened and once more pressed her knees together. "I am sorry, Marcus," she said, "I fear I have too long been a slave."

"It is of no matter, my dear, " he said gently, "I know there will be many adjustments for you to make." "Here is the clothing I have brought for you, " he said, "Do you know the viels and Robes of Concealment in this city? If not I can teach you" Kiera shook her head, "No Marcus, I have been trained in such things" "I know how to wear the Robes of Concealment." "Good," said Marcus, "I shall not expect you to do so in the house, except when we have visitors, but you must when you go into the streets. In the house I will expect you to wear the robe of a free woman, however." "Yes Marcus, " Kiera said. "Then, Lady Kiera, you should get dressed. You can avail yourself of the privacy of our bedroom if you wish." Kiera nodded and took the package from Marcus. She rushed to the safety of the bedroom fearing that her tears might start to fall again.

She opened the package and pulled out its contents, laying them on the bed. There was no denying they were beautiful garments. The veils were soft and shimmered in the half-light of the room. The house robe that he had bought for her was of a deep red and was beautifully patterned with embroidery. She took off her slave tunic and regarded it. It was tiny and diaphanous. She put the house robe on, tentatively. As she expected it fell way below her knees and had a high neckline. It covered her shoulders and arms. Although quite light in texture it was, she could see opaque. She also noticed there were undergarments, rather like Earth underpants. She was to shield her sex with these. Kiera put them on, feeling very strange, but knowing that Marcus would expect this of her. The rest of the clothes she put away in the wardrobe. A great wave of sadness came over her suddenly and she sat down upon the couch. This was not merely the newness of it she felt. This was deeply wrong for her, she knew. Having no other choice though she rose, dried her tears and went to face him, dressed in the robe of the free woman.

He looked up as she entered and stood, thus welcoming her as a free woman. "My dear, you look womderful!" he exclaimed. "That dress really does suit you well." He inspected her more closely and then a look of dismay came over his face. "Lady Kiera, you must remove your earrings!" he said, shocked. Kiera put her hands up to her ears and found that in her distress she had neglected to remove them. She did so quickly, her embarassment and bewilderment showing on her face. "I’m so sorry, Marcus," she said, "I didn’t notice." "Well, you must," he said harshly,"and no make up too! Free women do not use cosmetics in this city!" "But Marcus, what harm will it do here, at home?" she said falteringly. "You must start to act like a free woman at all times," he shouted. Kiera burst into tears and said, "But Mast- Marcus….I don’t think I can!" He moved over to her and held her in his arms. "Hey, don’t cry, it’ll be fine in the end, you’ll see. Come let us drink the wine of the Free Companionship." Arms interlocked they drank.

They spent most of the rest of the night in silence. Kiera feared that her every word would be wrong and chose to be silent rather than again risk Marcus’ displeasure. At last, yawning, he said that he was ready for bed. She acqueisced not wishing to prolong the evening further.

She preceded him to the bedroom. She looked at the couch. Before this night she had always slept at the foot of it. Now Marcus was drawing back the covers and inviting her into it. She undressed and complied. He reached for her in the darkness, gently. She felt a wave of panic at this. His touch did not excite her as a woman, but rather irritated her with its tentativeness. "No!" she snapped crossly. "Why?" said Marcus, his tone betraying his hurt feelings. "I-I have a headache," said Kiera, "there has been much for me to cope with today. Please understand, Marcus." "Sure," he said comfortingly. "I understand, my dear." He rolled from her and went to sleep.

Kiera lay awake through the long night. It was not merely that she was unused to the softness of the couch. She was immensely troubled by what had happened. She scratched her fingernails on the couch feeling the undiminshed slave heat that Marcus’ gentle touch had been unable to satisfy in her. "Please, Master," she said softly, "Make me again a slave." Marcus slumbered on unawares. Eventually as light approached Kiera fell asleep exhausted.

She awoke to find Marcus dressed and ready to go to work. He saw her eyes open and came over to her. "Good morning, my darling," he said gently. "Good morning, Marcus," she said. He brushed her lips with a gentle kiss and then said, "I must be away now my love. There is money in a purse on the side for you. I want you to go and get some other clothes and to buy a work slave to do the household chores." "You must not be bothered by such things anymore." "Yes Marcus," she said, resignedly, "Goodbye, my Master." "Marcus," he said reprovingly. Then he smiled, "Goodbye my darling. I will see you later."

As soon as he was gone she knew what she must do. She retrieved her slave tunic and again smoothed it down upon her. She was sad that this must be so, but she could no longer live a lie. She put on cosmetics and her earrings, taking care to make herself as attractive as possible. She then stepped outside into the Gorean street knowing full well what would happen to her, clad as she was and uncollared. She felt a pang of regret as she thought of leaving Marcus behind. She knew she might never find a love Master again as the chances of this were said to be slim. However she also knew she needed to find a Master. In her was nothing of the Free Companion, but all of the slave girl.

Kai