Irsud by Jo Clayton

her.”
    â€œGapp!”
    Aleytys shuddered, Gapp’s touching hands bringing nausea sour into her throat. She rubbed her arms absently. When I get back, she thought, I’ll take a bath. I’ll take two baths.
    â€œTake the Parakhuzerim and instruct her in her role so that she can take her place in the rites tomorrow.”
    â€œIm, kipu.” Gapp grinned at Aleytys. Aleytys backed away another few steps and looked rapidly around.
    â€œMust she?” she asked sharply.
    The kipu ignored her. “Gapp,” she said heavily. “listen to me.”
    â€œIm?”
    â€œControl your … your little fancies.” Once again the kipu’s face showed distaste. “If you touch her before the rites, I’ll send Sukall with the Discipline. Is that clear?”
    Gapp pouted sulkily. “Why? She coupled with that Migru, at least she says so.” She caught the skin and muscle on Aleytys’ arm between her thumb and forefinger then squeezed hard. “She might enjoy playing with me. Why not?”
    â€œBecause I said so. I don’t want her marked, Gapp, or so jangled she can’t do what is necessary. I know the games you play. Well?”
    Gapp fidgeted. “After?” she asked hopefully.
    The kipu shrugged.
    â€œYou promised. I’ll keep hands off her now, but remember, you promised her to me.” She smiled wetly at Aleytys. “Just wait, soft one, we’ll have some fine times.”
    â€œYou. Parakhuzerim.”
    Because the damper was scrambling her head again, Aleytys was slow to understand and answer. At last she nodded clumsily.
    â€œI don’t want to see you again. Not here. You understand?”
    â€œIf I need anything?”
    The kipu shrugged. “Tell the guard.”
    â€œYes, kipu.” Aleytys spoke with proper submissiveness. But behind her back her hands closed into fists so tightly her nails cut small crescents into her palms.
    â€œHm.” The kipu rubbed her long supple thumb across her chin. “Take a little advice, Parakhuzerim. You can have a very pleasant life if you choose. Serve us for a year, then I’ll give you your freedom.”
    â€œYes, kipu.” Aleytys choked down a sudden flare of rage. Free, she thought. Liar!
    â€œAlthough I would prefer not … for various reasons … I’ll drug you if I have to. If you cause me too much trouble, I’ll do it. You understand?”
    â€œYes, kipu.”

CHAPTER VI
    Aleytys tugged at the tight crotch of the stiff gold bodysuit, while sweat trickled down her neck as the heavy elaborate helmet pressed on her head until it ached with a dull throb. The monotonous chant went on and on while the sacerdote Harran, wreathed in clouds of heavy incense, paced multiple circles around the pile of logs. After another few minutes of discomfort and boredom, Aleytys thrust her thumbs into the armholes and tried to ease the strain put on her breasts by nayid tailors who didn’t know how to cut clothing for a mammal. She glanced along the line of blank-faced sabutim.
    Near the eastern edge of the flat-topped butte, wrapped in layer on layer of thick gold cloth until it was a flattened, grossly enlarged seed resting on a shallow gold platter, the old queen’s body lay in state on top of the bunting-draped criss-crossed logs. Seated at her feet, wound with blue-dyed ropes, the knots accented with gilt paint, Lisshan stared out with dulled unseeing eyes, lost in some fine euphoria, floating on the wings of a drug. Hiiri were looped below him around the base of the pyre with their own small peninsulas of crossed and criss-crossed logs less than half the diameter of the massive timbers in the main pile. But of course they didn’t count … slaves now, slaves for eternity.
    And the chant went on.
    And the sacerdote walked back and forth in front of the pyre wreathed in clouds of heavy incense.
    Sick to the point of nausea, Aleytys glanced at the guards