Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
There was a second golden chariot as well and I saw another Korrigon male stepping out of it, who I thought must be Sir Gra’multh, the Overlord of the Southern Continent.
He was dressed in a long black robe with golden trim and he looked much older than Sir. His horns were twisted and knotted and he had black age spots on his ashy gray hands. He also had a long, drooping white mustache and an even longer beard that covered his chest.
“So, Sir Barinthian Ver’Toklar,” he remarked, casting a scathing look at Sir. “I see you’re here to battle for your cause, yet again.”
“I am indeed, Sir Gra’multh,” Sir said grimly. “And don’t think I haven’t noticed that you’ve brought Mind-Controlled slaves into the Palace, against both law and convention. Your cruelty will not stand!”
Sir Gra’multh waved one liver-spotted hand.
“As if a few Mind-Controlled creatures here or there make any difference. They are inferior animals—they don’t even know enough to care if they’re being controlled.”
“Yes, they do!” I shot back, unable to keep my mouth shut any longer. “Just because other people don’t have ‘Mental Abilities’ doesn’t mean they’re too stupid or inferior to care about having their lives taken away and being forced to work for someone like you the rest of their lives!”
“Well, well—I see you have a new pet, Barinthian,” Gra’multh cackled, speaking to Sir instead of replying to me. “Quite a talkative little thing, isn’t she?”
“She speaks her mind,” Sir said. “I value that in her. She’s also a La-ti-zal and a Pure One.”
“Bought her from the Commercians after picking her out on their Alien Mate Index, did you?” Gra’multh lifted one bushy eyebrow knowingly.
Sir frowned.
“How did you know that?”
“Why…because I decided to buy a pet there myself. Clarissa, my dear, do come out and stop being bashful.”
There was a stirring behind Gra’multh’s voluminous black robe and then a lovely young woman who didn’t look that different from me—well, except that she was considerably thinner—poked her face out and smiled shyly at Sir.
“Greetings, Overlord of the Northern Continent,” she said in a sweet voice. “My Master has told me much of you.”
Sir frowned in apparent confusion.
“Wait…you have a Pure One pet from Earth as well?”
“Did you think you were the only one?” Gra’multh gave him a mocking grin. “I’ve been training my dear little pet, Clarissa, for this day for ages. Come all the way out, my dear,” he added to the girl. “And meet a new little friend—another pet from your home world.”
The girl named Clarissa came all the way out from behind Gra’multh’s voluminous black robes and nodded at me. She was naked except for a golden collar and leash and she didn’t seem to mind it a bit. At her waist she wore a gravity belt just like mine, though hers had a curving scabbard clipped to it. I could see the jeweled handle of what seemed to be a knife sticking out of it. Was it some kind of ceremonial thing? If so, why hadn’t Sir given one to me to wear as well?
In addition to being completely and unashamedly nude, Clarissa had long, black hair and big blue eyes and she was built like a super model. It was obvious that Gra’multh didn’t share Sir’s love of women with curves, I thought.
“Say hello, my dear,” the Overlord of the Southern Continent prompted his pet and Clarissa came towards me, smiling.
“Hello,” she said in that same sweet, low voice. “I am Clarissa of Earth. And who might you be?”
“I’m Elli. I come from Virginia,” I said. “Are you from the US too? Or maybe the UK?” She had an exotic kind of beauty that made me think maybe she was European.
“I come from Earth,” she said, still smiling woodenly. “From the Northern Continent.”
“Which continent?” I asked, frowning. “Do you mean North America?”
“Yes. The Northern Continent,” she repeated and I noticed that her eyes weren’t quite meeting my own. In fact, she seemed to be staring off into the distance behind my head somewhere. What was wrong with her?
“Hey,” I said to her. “Are you okay?”
“That’s quite enough now, Clarissa, my pet,” Gra’multh put a proprietary arm around the girl’s bare shoulders and pulled her back behind his robes. He was almost twice as tall as she was, the same way Sir was twice as tall as me, yet the other differences between them made my skin crawl. It was difficult to know how Korrigons aged—I hadn’t thought to ask Sir about it—but I judged that Gra’multh must be a good fifty years older than Clarissa. If he was using her as a Sex Pet…ugh! The thought nearly made me gag.
“Well, I think it’s time we made our assent to the throne so that we can plead our separate cases before the Sovereign, don’t you?” Gra’multh said to Sir. “Let us climb the stairs and seek her wisdom.”