I whimper as the beating seems endless, my body a mass of pain.
The free woman snaps her fingers and the three slaves stop hitting me with their quirts and drop to their knees by her boots.
She walks over and examines my body.
“You want that surrender to happen sooner.
It should understand that it is property, an extension of its owner. Does it know the slave paces?”
“It has read the books but the slave paces are more for kajiras.”my Master replies.
“We shall see.” She says and undoes the bindings holding the block of wood in my mouth and takes it out,”What are you boy?”
“Mistress this boy is a slave Mistress, Kijarus.”
“What does being a slave mean?”
“Mistress it means this boy is property and owned Mistress.”
“What are your duties beast?”
“Mistress, this beast duties are to be perfectly pleasing and absolute obedience.”
“How do you fulfill those duties, beast?”
“Mistress this beast is to serve, please, and be pleasing to all free, Mistress.”
My Master chimes in, “When may a slave say the name of a free person?”
“Master, a slave may never say the name of a free person, Master.”
“What does a slave call all free people?”
“Master a slave calls a free people Master or Mistress.”
He stands and walks over to me and slaps me hard across the face.
He pauses and backhands me.
Then smacks me again and backhands me again.
Over and over until my head is reeling.
He leans in and says “How does a slave distinguish its owner from other free people?”
“Mmmmy Master by referring to the slaves owner as my Master… my Master.”
He grunts and sits back down.
The free woman continues, “When may a slave refuse a command or say ‘no’.”
“Mistress, never Mistress.”
“A slave always has the last words. What are they?”
“Mistress a slaves ends every interaction with a free by saying “Yes Master… or yes Mistress.”
“Who may punish a slave and why?”
“Mistress any free may punish this slave for any reason Mistress”
“Or…?” my Master adds.
“My Master or … ummm for no reason at all, my Master.”
“And how must a slave serve?”
“My Master a slave must serve and please as if its very life depends on it, because it does, my Master.”
“See,” the free woman says “this beast understands perfectly.”