| Chapter # | Sentence # | Quote | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 119 |
Axel, I recalled, had mentioned another quarry, and, I had gathered, the laris withdrawn, this enabling the hunt of Axel, such a quarry, one apparently of interest to Lord Okimoto and Tyrtaios, might prove, eventually, to have some relationship to the fled slave. |
10 |
| 43 | 1258 |
He approached Axel as usual, and, affectionately, rubbed his bloodied muzzle and fangs against Axel's thigh. |
10 |
| 52 | 487 |
Both Genserich and Master Axel had independently sought the Panther Women, Genserich from the south, from the vicinity of the Laurius, to preclude their reporting to forces gathered at the mouth of the Alexandra, and Master Axel, from the north, to locate them as spies and summon assistance, were he... |
10 |
| 22 | 78 |
"Do you know Axel of Argentum?" she inquired. |
10 |
| 22 | 111 |
I supposed that this Axel of Argentum, or whoever he was, had probably overheard the discourse of slaves. |
10 |
| 26 | 4 |
"Axel," he said. |
10 |
| 26 | 52 |
I did not know how much this Axel, allegedly of Argentum, might know of matters into which it might be dangerous to inquire. |
10 |
| 26 | 130 |
"Perhaps later," said Axel. |
10 |
| 26 | 143 |
I looked at Axel, closely. |
10 |
| 26 | 185 |
"Hold, hold," said Axel soothingly. |
10 |
| 26 | 188 |
Axel then donned a heavy pair of gloves, and attached a chain leash to the beast's heavy, thick, spiked collar. |
10 |
| 26 | 200 |
Axel then looped together the freed tether, and attached it to his belt. |
10 |
| 26 | 203 |
Axel retrieved one of these, and handed me the other. |
10 |
| 26 | 233 |
We had moved past the wands no more than a few yards when Axel held up the growling, unwilling beast. |
10 |
| 28 | 1 |
"Your little vulo has flown far," said Axel. |
10 |
| 28 | 3 |
"What will you do with her, when you apprehend her?" inquired Axel. |
10 |
| 28 | 13 |
"He will not do so," said Axel. |
10 |
| 28 | 18 |
Axel backed away a little, shortening the leash. |
10 |
| 28 | 23 |
"Blood," observed Axel. |
10 |
| 28 | 26 |
Axel took the opened pod, and held it near the snout of the sleen, which began to growl, and lash its tail. |
10 |
| 28 | 30 |
"Proceed, Tiomines," said Axel, and the beast, tugging at the leash, snout to the ground, with renewed zest, addressed himself once more to his work. |
10 |
| 30 | 1 |
"Your beast is excited," I said to Axel. |
10 |
| 30 | 2 |
"She was here, last night," said Axel. |
10 |
| 30 | 7 |
"Be patient," said Axel. |
10 |
| 30 | 12 |
"He is playing," said Axel, "he is enjoying himself, he is relishing, he is reminding himself of what a bright, glowing thing it can be, he is taking it more deeply into himself". |
10 |
| 30 | 14 |
If we came upon the prey, I trusted Axel could control the beast. |
10 |
| 30 | 16 |
"No," said Axel. |
10 |
| 30 | 19 |
"One loses the trail, one finds it," said Axel. |
10 |
| 30 | 22 |
"The page is there," said Axel. |
10 |
| 30 | 26 |
"Of course," said Axel. |
10 |
| 30 | 55 |
"The scent is not the easiest to follow," said Axel. |
10 |
| 30 | 59 |
"A male is larger, heavier, easier to follow," said Axel. |
10 |
| 30 | 61 |
"There is no danger," said Axel. |
10 |
| 30 | 64 |
Axel had taken the first watch, and I the second. |
10 |
| 30 | 65 |
We had warmed ourselves with carefully measured swigs of paga, from Axel's flask. |
10 |
| 30 | 68 |
Axel had shared his camp blanket and rain blanket with the beast, sleeping beside it. |
10 |
| 30 | 76 |
"Excellent," said Axel. |
10 |
| 30 | 87 |
"What difference does it make?" said Axel. |
10 |
| 32 | 1 |
"I do not understand it," said Axel. |
10 |
| 32 | 3 |
"Yes," said Axel. |
10 |
| 34 | 1 |
"Ho!" said Axel, pointing to the ground. |
10 |
| 34 | 68 |
"He has been ready," said Axel. |
10 |
| 36 | 2 |
"Not many," said Axel. |
10 |
| 36 | 5 |
"Most likely more," said Axel. |
10 |
| 36 | 33 |
Axel held Tiomines back. |
10 |
| 36 | 36 |
"We will camp here," said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 2 |
"Hold the beast!" Axel tightened his grip on the leash of Homines. |
10 |
| 38 | 10 |
Axel, clearly, was primarily concerned to establish its existence, numbers, and direction, following which he would consider his possible course of action, either to attempt to deal with it, saving at least one prisoner who might be later interrogated at Shipcamp, or, if it seemed prudential, to wit... |
10 |
| 38 | 12 |
He, with Homines, would retain contact with the quarry It had apparently been the speculation of Axel, or, more likely, that of Tyrtaios, that Panther Girls, if they were in the vicinity, might note the fled slave, and, naturally, would not be averse to acquiring her. |
10 |
| 38 | 17 |
To be sure, there had apparently been some sort of contact between Asperiche and Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 19 |
Whereas Axel had all this clearly in mind and had explained it to me, my own interest here was not identical with his. |
10 |
| 38 | 24 |
"Steady, Homines," said Axel, softly. |
10 |
| 38 | 30 |
Axel did not wish to lose the sleen. |
10 |
| 38 | 39 |
"How is hunting?" inquired Axel, pleasantly enough. |
10 |
| 38 | 47 |
"Hunting," said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 49 |
"Nothing, as yet," said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 51 |
"Our friend here," said Axel, roughly shaking the fur at the base of the neck of Tiomines, "could kill at least one of you". |
10 |
| 38 | 54 |
"I would suggest," said Axel, affably, "that you do not interfere with our hunt". |
10 |
| 38 | 56 |
"One supposes not," said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 59 |
"You have the spears," said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 73 |
"Not bad," said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 92 |
"She does not look like a Panther Girl," said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 98 |
"She is too soft, too feminine, too attractive, too desirable, too beautiful to be a Panther Girl," said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 100 |
"Of course," said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 102 |
"True," said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 104 |
"The sleen is on a scent," said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 107 |
"It would not be wise without meat," said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 123 |
"The sleen is on a hunt," said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 125 |
"He may eat later," said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 128 |
He then pointed to the sleen, and gestured to one of his men, a gesture of which Axel and I took uneasy note, and then turned to the fellow, Aeson, who had come from the direction of the river. |
10 |
| 38 | 141 |
"No!" said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 144 |
Spears pressed against Axel's tensed body. |
10 |
| 38 | 147 |
Homines looked up at Axel, expectantly, ready to resume the hunt. |
10 |
| 38 | 184 |
This, too, was doubtless noted by Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 220 |
"Is the sleen dead?" asked Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 224 |
"The meat was drugged," said Axel. |
10 |
| 38 | 245 |
"You understand," said the leader, turning to Axel and myself, "that we will not brook interference". |
10 |
| 38 | 246 |
"We will remain here, quietly," said Axel. |
10 |
| 40 | 1 |
"It worked out well," said Axel. |
10 |
| 40 | 22 |
Axel need not know of a strange, gray world, of unusual ships of metal voyaging on dark seas, and secret slave routes. |
10 |
| 40 | 29 |
"They are all stupid," said Axel. |
10 |
| 40 | 60 |
"They seem to have an interest in them, as well," said Axel. |
10 |
| 40 | 72 |
Axel could have reached out and touched him. |
10 |
| 40 | 74 |
I suspected it would be worth someone's life to attack Axel, if Homines were about. |
10 |
| 40 | 77 |
"Tula is a good cook," said Axel. |
10 |
| 40 | 80 |
"One does not buy a slave for cooking," said Axel, "but for the furs". |
10 |
| 40 | 87 |
"Perhaps not," said Axel, "but all women have possibilities. |
10 |
| 40 | 92 |
How owned she was! What a superb possession! "What of the others?" asked Axel. |
10 |
| 40 | 114 |
"I would think so," said Axel. |
10 |
| 40 | 116 |
"That is true," said Axel. |
10 |
| 40 | 134 |
"The slaves are going to the river," said Axel. |
10 |
| 40 | 136 |
"I think," said Axel, "they are being permitted to bathe, to launder their tunics, or such". |
10 |
| 40 | 138 |
"Nonsense," said Axel. |
10 |
| 40 | 143 |
Axel looked after the prisoners, who had entered the forest, with their accompaniment, presumably to gather wood. |
10 |
| 40 | 145 |
"I would suppose," said Axel, "that the prisoners will be collared". |
10 |
| 41 | 285 |
"No," said the sleen master, who had identified himself as Axel of Argentum. |
10 |
| 41 | 288 |
"Surely," said Axel of Argentum. |
10 |
| 41 | 290 |
"It is a tune whistle," said Axel. |
10 |
| 41 | 294 |
"See how it is bent," said Axel. |
10 |
| 41 | 298 |
"Even when new," said Axel, "not everyone could sound it, and it is now broken". |
10 |
| 41 | 300 |
"Yes," said Axel. |
10 |
| 41 | 303 |
Axel laughed and slipped the whistle, on its strap, over his head. |
10 |
| 41 | 307 |
Axel handed me the whistle. |
10 |
| 41 | 316 |
Master Axel, nor the others, seemed concerned that its blast might be heard outside the camp. |
10 |
| 41 | 323 |
"See?" said Axel. |
10 |
| 41 | 326 |
"Even when new," said Axel, "it required strength to sound it, and it is now broken". |
10 |
| 41 | 329 |
"I doubt I could sound it myself," said Axel. |
10 |
| 41 | 338 |
"Steady, friend," said Axel soothingly to the beast, which then, again, put its head down on its paws, and closed its eyes. |
10 |
| 41 | 339 |
Axel slipped the whistle, on its strap, again, about his neck. |
10 |
| 41 | 342 |
"Better to repair it," said Axel. |
10 |
| 41 | 344 |
"I like it, I am fond of it," said Axel. |
10 |
| 41 | 358 |
"Tal, noble Genserich," said Axel. |
10 |
| 41 | 360 |
"We have just been drinking with two of your fellows," said Axel. |
10 |
| 41 | 362 |
"We must be leaving presently," said Axel. |
10 |
| 41 | 364 |
"Why?" asked Axel. |
10 |
| 41 | 374 |
"I must see to Homines," said Axel. |
10 |
| 41 | 427 |
"How is it," I asked, "that Master accompanied Master Axel of Argentum in his hunt?" "I was bored," he said. |
10 |
| 41 | 488 |
Not only was I not his, but he and Axel of Argentum, his fellow, were prisoners here, it seemed, as much as I. |
10 |
| 42 | 9 |
He and Axel of Argentum seemed to be free enough in the camp. |
10 |
| 43 | 1 |
"Something is going on," I said to Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 2 |
"Yes," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 18 |
Axel slapped his right thigh, sharply. |
10 |
| 43 | 20 |
The sleen immediately sprang up, and, a moment later, rubbed his muzzle against the side of Axel's leg. |
10 |
| 43 | 31 |
"Welcome," said Genserich to Axel and myself, acknowledging our presence. |
10 |
| 43 | 134 |
I glanced over at Axel, but his attention was on Genserich. |
10 |
| 43 | 148 |
Axel, as I recalled, had been less sure of this. |
10 |
| 43 | 152 |
I recalled that Axel, earlier, had remarked that we did not know what the gold given to Genserich was intended to buy. |
10 |
| 43 | 160 |
"Prepare to set the sleen on Genserich," I whispered to Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 164 |
"The sleen," I whispered to Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 288 |
I hoped I could count on the support of Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 291 |
Axel put his head down, close to the shaggy, massive head of the beast. |
10 |
| 43 | 310 |
Rorton looked to Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 312 |
"But I will," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 366 |
I, and surely Axel, who knew more of sleen than I, realized it would not be difficult to kill the sleen. |
10 |
| 43 | 424 |
"I am not comfortable here," he said, glancing uneasily at Axel and myself. |
10 |
| 43 | 429 |
Axel and I stepped back, preparing to withdraw. |
10 |
| 43 | 446 |
"If so," said Axel, "we can be of no interest to you. |
10 |
| 43 | 452 |
"Then," said Axel, "give her to us, and our weapons, and we will be on our way and concern you no longer". |
10 |
| 43 | 471 |
"I see nothing," said Axel, "to prevent us from slipping away into the forest". |
10 |
| 43 | 478 |
"Let us go," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 488 |
"You are an excellent commander," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 491 |
I looked at Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 508 |
"Forget her," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 521 |
"He could kill Rorton, but who else?" asked Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 525 |
"Genserich is clever," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 530 |
"Packs are being arranged," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 537 |
"It would be well for the slaves to be fed," said Axel, "lest they lag on the trail, or faint". |
10 |
| 43 | 550 |
"We are free men," said Axel, sharply. |
10 |
| 43 | 554 |
I took the two small pails from Aeson, and handed one to Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 556 |
"Why did you do this?" asked Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 558 |
"Are we to be troublesome, or accommodating?" "I see," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 567 |
"I thought so," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 570 |
What other consideration might have motivated Axel's remark, to the effect that he had anticipated this division of the task? Tula, Mila, and the other slave, here called Vulo, were kneeling, waiting. |
10 |
| 43 | 707 |
Axel was with them. |
10 |
| 43 | 708 |
"Do not resist," said Genserich to Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 710 |
Axel's hands were tied behind his back. |
10 |
| 43 | 714 |
I was confident, however, that if Axel had cried out, or fought, the sleen, perhaps startled or confused, might have become active, presumably to the end of its own destruction and, most likely, that of some others. |
10 |
| 43 | 717 |
"Quite," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 721 |
He bore two light hunting spears, and two belts, with swords and daggers, presumably those of Axel and myself. |
10 |
| 43 | 772 |
"That slave," said Axel, looking after her, "is a bold slave". |
10 |
| 43 | 790 |
"Then she must hate our friend very much," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 797 |
"Noble Genserich," said Axel, "a moment". |
10 |
| 43 | 799 |
"About my neck," said Axel, "as is known to several, say, Aeson and Genak, and some others, hangs a small musical instrument, a whistle, which few can sound. |
10 |
| 43 | 804 |
"And I that you can," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 806 |
"It would be most impressive to the men could you do so," called Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 808 |
"That was a rather far-fetched, and somewhat desperate, plan," I said to Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 809 |
"True," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 811 |
"Perhaps you might recommend that I have Tiomines chew through the cords?" said Axel, unpleasantly. |
10 |
| 43 | 813 |
"Certainly," said Axel, "first rub the cords with tarsk grease, and then be prepared to lose at least one hand". |
10 |
| 43 | 820 |
"You wish to be behind a certain slave," said Axel, "she who is last in line". |
10 |
| 43 | 846 |
Neither Axel nor I, bound and on our rope, would be likely to figure in any resolution of what might be in the offing. |
10 |
| 43 | 852 |
"The step has been taken," whispered Axel to me, "from which there is no return". |
10 |
| 43 | 894 |
Axel and I exchanged startled, elated glances. |
10 |
| 43 | 903 |
"It is a domestic beast! There are men with it!" "Two, three hundred!" called out Axel, in an authoritative voice. |
10 |
| 43 | 906 |
"We are officers from the camp of the great ship, of which you have heard," said Axel, taking some liberties with the truth. |
10 |
| 43 | 915 |
"Steady, friend," said Axel, as his hands were being freed. |
10 |
| 43 | 929 |
I saw Axel cinching his belt about his waist. |
10 |
| 43 | 933 |
You, Genak, Axel, and I, with the whistle". |
10 |
| 43 | 937 |
"I do not care to repeat myself," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 944 |
Cast away your weapons and kneel!" Axel's lifted hand trembled, and his eyes glittered with a fierce, feral blaze. |
10 |
| 43 | 956 |
"Your position is hopeless!" "I will lower my hand!" cried Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 957 |
"I am eager to do so!" "Wait!" I said, doing as well as I could, but with little hope of outdoing Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 959 |
The blood lust is upon you!" "It is not!" cried Axel, wildly, with an excellent imitation of a fellow on whom might rest the flames of blood lust. |
10 |
| 43 | 967 |
"I will count three," said Axel, eyes blazing. |
10 |
| 43 | 971 |
"On your bellies, facing the river, your hands crossed behind you!" said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 976 |
"You may sit up," said Axel, affably. |
10 |
| 43 | 978 |
"What others?" asked Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 980 |
"I may have miscounted," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 982 |
"I did not know for sure," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 985 |
"I count seventeen," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 990 |
"Do not be sure of that," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 994 |
It may be recalled that this arrangement had been put in place by either Tyrtaios, or Lord Okimoto, to support Axel, and take action, if he were fortunate enough to make contact with the Panther Women. |
10 |
| 43 | 997 |
"That was what Tyrtaios anticipated," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1004 |
"Dally a bit," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1007 |
Axel gestured to the prisoners, "Why, to feed, of course," he said. |
10 |
| 43 | 1009 |
"No!" "Do not fear," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1015 |
"It is you who have brought us to this!" "Stop her!" cried Axel, and Donna had scarcely reached the edge of the camp, her scarlet tunic bright against the green, when she was seized. |
10 |
| 43 | 1016 |
"Bind her, hand and foot," said Axel, "and throw her here". |
10 |
| 43 | 1027 |
"I am first here," said Axel to the mariner who was leader of the newcomers. |
10 |
| 43 | 1030 |
"I am a high officer amongst remote forces," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1033 |
"Do you think such a weighty task would be entrusted to one who was not a high officer?" inquired Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1035 |
"It was not," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1038 |
"You have been paid, I take it," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1040 |
"But not enough," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1042 |
"You see those four slaves," said Axel, "those on the neck rope, who have not yet earned tunics?" Here he indicated Darla, Tuza, Emerald, and Hiza. |
10 |
| 43 | 1045 |
"Those four were the spies," said Axel, "once Panther Girls". |
10 |
| 43 | 1047 |
"Others have saved us the trouble," said Axel, indicating Genserich and his band, clustered about, bound and helpless. |
10 |
| 43 | 1049 |
"You are ours," said Axel, "and so what was yours is now ours". |
10 |
| 43 | 1053 |
"We give them to you as a bonus," said Axel, generously. |
10 |
| 43 | 1057 |
"What is your home port?" inquired Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1059 |
"I supposed so," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1064 |
"How long will it take you to reach Brundisium?" asked Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1066 |
"Excellent," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1068 |
"It will give you time to deck train the new slaves," said Axel, "helping them to understand, and well, the nature of their new lives". |
10 |
| 43 | 1072 |
"Do not be greedy," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1075 |
"There are fifteen prisoners here," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1080 |
"Let us feed them one at a time to the lari, say, one each day," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1082 |
"Who shall be first?" asked Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1085 |
"An excellent choice," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1103 |
Axel whipped out his knife. |
10 |
| 43 | 1110 |
"Do you wish us to participate?" "No," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1114 |
"Marshal your men for withdrawal," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1118 |
"That is interesting," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1119 |
A few javelins, and blades, harnessing, goods, and such, apparently of little interest, were removed from the camp, and, following Axel's instructions, left by the shore of the river, in the mud, some one hundred paces away. |
10 |
| 43 | 1121 |
"And I, you," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1129 |
"We must finish our business here," said Axel, lifting his dagger, catching the early afternoon sun on the blade. |
10 |
| 43 | 1132 |
"Who will be first?" inquired Axel, surveying the prisoners. |
10 |
| 43 | 1140 |
"Very well," said Axel, and he bent to Genserich, and Donna shrieked in misery. |
10 |
| 43 | 1144 |
"Cutting your throat," said Axel, "but I missed. |
10 |
| 43 | 1147 |
"You might have killed us, but did not," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1162 |
"I took the liberty, earlier," said Axel to Genserich, "of emptying your purse". |
10 |
| 43 | 1170 |
"I was dispatched," said Axel, "to reclaim a slave, but there are two others in this camp, whom I now declare unclaimed". |
10 |
| 43 | 1173 |
Axel went to the kneeling Tula and Mila, seized them by the hair, and pulled them to the prisoners. |
10 |
| 43 | 1179 |
Axel then turned to me. |
10 |
| 43 | 1180 |
"As you know," said Axel, "time presses and a rendezvous is imminent". |
10 |
| 43 | 1183 |
"To me, Tiomines!" said Axel, sharply, and the large, low, sinuous beast, with a growl and a turn of its long spine, was at his side. |
10 |
| 43 | 1185 |
Genserich looked to Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1186 |
"You may free your men," said Axel, "but keep them from the shore until we are clear of the camp". |
10 |
| 43 | 1205 |
I regarded Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1211 |
"Beware!" screamed Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1213 |
"Kill!" cried Axel to Homines, pointing toward Rorton. |
10 |
| 43 | 1218 |
"Call him off!" I cried to Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1223 |
"Call him back!" I said to Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1224 |
"No," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1241 |
"Until his hunger is satisfied," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1243 |
"Winter is coming," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1248 |
"We will have him," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1253 |
"It will not be long now," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1259 |
"Good, lad," said Axel. |
10 |
| 43 | 1279 |
"Your hospitality, such as it was," said Axel to Genserich, "has been acknowledged. |
10 |
| 43 | 1287 |
"I wish you well," said Axel to Genserich, and the others. |
10 |
| 43 | 1291 |
Axel then turned to me. |
10 |
| 44 | 29 |
Tula, Mila and I, and, I think, others, as well, even the men, had been startled when Master Axel had suddenly cried out, and Master Genserich, warned, had moved in such a way, so quickly, so suddenly, spinning about, as to avoid receiving a cast javelin in his back. |
10 |
| 44 | 32 |
Almost at the same time, Master Axel, his mien terrible, had cried out and loosed his hideous beast, setting it on the assailant. |
10 |
| 44 | 58 |
Too, I was sure that Master Axel would wish to return quickly with the sleen to Shipcamp, and, happily, doubtless, too, the monstrous brute with him whom I hated with such vehemence. |
10 |
| 44 | 59 |
How dismayed I had been when the intruders had invaded the camp, allies, it seemed, of Master Axel and the brute with him, and they had been freed! I had earlier been much delighted to take my vengeance on the brute who had so ignored and scorned me, when he was bound and helpless. |
10 |
| 44 | 74 |
Shortly thereafter he and Master Axel, who were apparently in some way in league with the intruders, had been freed, and I had trembled in terror. |
10 |
| 45 | 1 |
"No!" said Axel. |
10 |
| 45 | 17 |
"Axel!" I said. |
10 |
| 45 | 18 |
"If Tiomines were leashed," said Axel, "and all went well, she might keep ahead of us for two or more days". |
10 |
| 45 | 24 |
"We do not even know where to search for scent," said Axel. |
10 |
| 47 | 18 |
Axel had said to forget her but I, for some reason, though she was only a slave, did not wish to do so. |
10 |
| 47 | 28 |
I supposed I should return to Shipcamp, like Axel. |
10 |
| 47 | 50 |
Axel, I recalled, had not despised her, not wholly. |
10 |
| 49 | 79 |
Master pursued me into the forest with Master Axel, and his beast. |
10 |
| 49 | 83 |
"I joined Axel for diversion, and a pleasant hunt. |
10 |
| 50 | 60 |
"Axel!" said my captor. |
10 |
| 50 | 61 |
"I see you have her," said Axel. |
10 |
| 50 | 70 |
"I brought her," said Axel. |
10 |
| 50 | 79 |
"And she is very lovely," said Axel. |
10 |
| 50 | 81 |
"Certainly," said Axel. |
10 |
| 50 | 83 |
"How so?" asked Axel. |
10 |
| 50 | 123 |
"Enough of the meaningless chatter of bond sluts," said Axel. |
10 |
| 50 | 125 |
"I will report the capture of the slave to the magistrates," said Axel. |
10 |
| 50 | 128 |
"May I accompany Master Axel?" inquired Asperiche. |
10 |
| 50 | 131 |
How willingly and light- heartedly, I thought, did the slave follow Master Axel. |
10 |
| 50 | 136 |
I supposed the weapon skills of my captor and Master Axel would be similar. |
10 |
| 50 | 147 |
I trusted that lovely Asperiche would not be the cause of bloodshed between Master Axel and my captor. |
10 |
| 50 | 149 |
Are we then so meaningless, truly? But, I thought, Master Axel and my captor are friends. |
10 |
| 50 | 162 |
"Master Axel," I said, "reports my capture to my Pani masters". |
10 |
| 50 | 360 |
Yet he was recognized here, in an area prohibited to most, and had apparently experienced no difficulty in accompanying Master Axel into the forest. |
10 |
| 51 | 28 |
"I accompanied Axel of Argentum," I said. |
10 |
| 51 | 59 |
"I accompanied Axel of Argentum," I said, "who was dispatched to locate spies, Panther Girls. |
10 |
| 52 | 289 |
"I think so," said Axel of Argentum. |
10 |
| 52 | 291 |
"Very little," said Master Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 294 |
"True," said Master Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 296 |
"Surely it is clear," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 298 |
"I do not understand," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 300 |
"You were to cut the throat of the slave, and report to the ship," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 303 |
"Or such, I think," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 305 |
"It seems," said Axel, "that your head has been turned by a slave". |
10 |
| 52 | 312 |
"It is only necessary," said Axel, "that you cut the throat of the slave and return to the ship". |
10 |
| 52 | 314 |
"So it would seem the sword," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 316 |
"You would risk your life for a slave?" asked Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 318 |
"I see," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 321 |
"Nor I," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 324 |
"Not strange," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 327 |
"Apparently," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 329 |
"I am not alone," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 333 |
"I think one would do," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 335 |
"Possibly," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 337 |
"It is true," said Axel, "that I do not know the nature of your skills". |
10 |
| 52 | 340 |
"I returned first to Shipcamp," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 344 |
"It is only necessary, if I wished," said Axel, "that I engage you defensively It is difficult to penetrate an exclusive defense. |
10 |
| 52 | 351 |
"The force of his attack, even if struck to the heart, a difficult blow, would carry you to the ground, where you would be an easy mark," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 354 |
"True," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 356 |
"Obviously," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 358 |
"So, too, am I," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 360 |
"Certainly," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 363 |
Axel withdrew a few paces. |
10 |
| 52 | 378 |
"Are you ready?" inquired Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 388 |
"The second whistle must have sounded," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 393 |
"This is your last chance," said Axel, menacingly. |
10 |
| 52 | 395 |
"Cut her throat, and return to the ship," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 400 |
"The game is done," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 402 |
"I have learned," said Axel, "what I came to learn, that you are not the creature of Tyrtaios". |
10 |
| 52 | 404 |
"Nor ami," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 408 |
"To be secretly disembarked at the World's End," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 412 |
"But it seems cards may be marked, or dice weighted," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 414 |
"What is in the great boxes?" asked Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 420 |
"But it is unlikely that the great ship will reach the World's End," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 424 |
"The knowledge we bear is dangerous," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 426 |
"Tyrtaios?" said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 428 |
"We must begin our trek south," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 430 |
"Not in the great ship," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 435 |
"Tassa powder," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 443 |
Axel lifted Asperiche from the boat and put her half in the chill water, at the beach's edge, and she began to cry out, and shudder, and was then lifted up, wide-eyed, and placed on her back, not far from me. |
10 |
| 52 | 450 |
Axel unbound Asperiche, and she looked at my captor, frightened. |
10 |
| 52 | 452 |
And then she ran to Axel of Argentum, knelt, and put her head down to his feet, trembling. |
10 |
| 52 | 453 |
"Here," said Axel, who drew from his wallet a small coin, a yellow coin, a gold tarsk, perhaps from Besnit or Harfax, where such coins are popular, and tossed it to my captor, who caught it. |
10 |
| 52 | 454 |
"Is that enough?" inquired Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 456 |
How pleased I was that he was ridding himself of her! But would he want me? "No, no," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 461 |
Asperiche had her head to Axel's feet, and was sobbing, with relief, and joy. |
10 |
| 52 | 465 |
"Free my ankles," I said, "and see to whose feet I run!" Axel undid the small lace with which my ankles had been tied together, and I, tunicked, my hands braceleted behind me, sped to my captor, knelt, and put my head down to his feet. |
10 |
| 52 | 467 |
"You are," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 470 |
"He bought you yesterday, from the Pani," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 486 |
My captor and Master Axel had earlier been apprehended by Genserich. |
10 |
| 52 | 488 |
Master Axel had somehow managed to contact this latter group, bringing it into play. |
10 |
| 52 | 489 |
Eventually Genserich, his task accomplished, although scarcely as he had anticipated, returned to the coast, the captured Panther Women in his custody, and Master Axel, with the sleen, Homines, had returned to Shipcamp, to report the outcome of his pursuit, which outcome would assure that the securi... |
10 |
| 52 | 490 |
My captor had accompanied Master Axel, he said, for sport, but did not accompany him back to Shipcamp. |
10 |
| 52 | 509 |
"Behold!" said Axel, pointing across the river. |
10 |
| 52 | 513 |
"There are forces massed at the mouth of the Alexandra to stop her," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 515 |
"Thence it is to raging Thassa," said Master Axel, "and its winter". |
10 |
| 52 | 518 |
"Is there no way in which this may be drawn to the attention of the Pani?" asked Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 527 |
"He is fond of you," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 529 |
"We were together in the forest," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 531 |
"Did you not note the menace of the growl?" "You know little of sleen," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 534 |
"Only to one unfamiliar with sleen," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 536 |
"No," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 538 |
"Of course," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 540 |
"Neither did Tyrtaios," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 545 |
"The sleen is a terrible beast," said Axel, "but, too, it has a long memory, and it is capable of affection". |
10 |
| 52 | 547 |
"That was fortunate for me," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 548 |
"How did you know I would not do the bidding of Tyrtaios and join the ship?" "I did not know," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 555 |
"It is my master, noble Axel of Argentum," she said, "who should silence me, if I am to be silenced, not you. |
10 |
| 52 | 560 |
"Not more than I was worth to Axel of Argentum," she said. |
10 |
| 52 | 562 |
"My judgment is notoriously suspect," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 564 |
"But she does have lovely ankles," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 571 |
"That Tyrtaios have one less minion at his disposal," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 575 |
"You have heard of that?" asked Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 577 |
"I suspected so," said Axel, "from the forest. |
10 |
| 52 | 584 |
"Certainly," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 590 |
"On your feet," said Axel to Asperiche, who leapt up. |
10 |
| 52 | 593 |
I recalled that Axel had spoken of two lovely slaves. |
10 |
| 52 | 596 |
"Nice," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 601 |
"Many barbarians are attractive," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 611 |
But why, I asked myself, should I be embarrassed by, or shamed by, or disconcerted by, signs of, and the obvious consequences of, health, life, hormonal richness, and vitality? Had not nature made me so, designed me to be a yielded, surrendered slave in the arms of masters? And in the collar, and in... |
10 |
| 52 | 613 |
"Put either one of them in with a crowd of free women, all stripped," said Axel, "and one would see her as the slave". |
10 |
| 52 | 621 |
"Tyrtaios would have paid well," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 623 |
"We might have been mighty men," said Axel, fondling the shaggy, lifted head of Tiomines. |
10 |
| 52 | 625 |
"Thassa," said Axel, "is treacherous, deep, and cruel". |
10 |
| 52 | 627 |
"Tersites," said Axel, "would challenge the winds and the sea, fearful Thassa, in the fiercest and most ruthless of seasons". |
10 |
| 52 | 629 |
"Perhaps, it is so," said Axel, "of all who, so to speak, build great ships". |
10 |
| 52 | 631 |
"No," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 634 |
"Then it seems our desertions were ill-advised," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 636 |
"And have little to show for it," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 639 |
"Does she have permission to speak? Have you suffered her to speak?" "She has always spoken freely before me, owned or not owned," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 642 |
I did not think he would be as permissive as Master Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 643 |
"It makes it all the more pleasant then," said Axel, "to bring them again to their knees". |
10 |
| 52 | 645 |
"A privilege not granted is not much missed," said Axel, "but a privilege granted is more missed when it is withdrawn". |
10 |
| 52 | 656 |
"We will trek," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 659 |
"Axel," said my master. |
10 |
| 52 | 674 |
"Nothing now," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 680 |
"Are you a spy?" asked Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 682 |
"I wish you well," said Axel. |
10 |
| 52 | 690 |
"Hoist my pack," said Axel to Asperiche. |
10 |
| 52 | 692 |
Shortly thereafter Axel made his way up from the bank, south, into the forest, heeled by his slave. |
10 |
| 52 | 693 |
Homines rubbed his snout, head, and coat against the thigh of my master, and then, turning about, padded away, in the wake of Axel and his slave, Asperiche. |
10 |
| 52 | 740 |
"Master Axel paid a gold tarsk for Asperiche," I said. |
10 |
| 52 | 893 |
I rose to my feet, and hurried into the brush to the side, from which, earlier, Master Axel had emerged. |
10 |
| 52 | 950 |
He did lift and cast aside the tarpaulin which had been in the boat brought by Axel, which had covered the unconscious form of Asperiche. |
10 |