As Juliah and her companion walked up the street, his eyes never left the ground. She broke the silence, “the salesman neglected to tell me your name.”

   “Michael,” he answered softly but quickly.

   “You’re the quiet type; that is an added feature that I shall enjoy.”

   “Thank you,” came a meek reply. “My other masters thought it was a sneaky trait.”

   “Where are you from?”

   “Kealamen.”

   “How did you become a slave?”

   “I was 8, the younger of two children. My father could not support four of us so he sold me.” Michael’s voice remained monotone.

   “But you have developed into a very muscular man?”

   “The future did not matter; only then mattered.”

   At that moment a guard stopped them. “Who shall enter?” He barked.

   “You must be new?” Juliah asked in a calm, playful voice.

   “I am,” he barked back. “I started yesterday.”

   “I shall enter.” She straightened her posture then threw her head back. “I am the princess.”

   ‘The princess’, Michael thought to himself. ‘A princess owns me’! While they were walking in the palace garden, he fell to his knees.

   “What is the matter with you?” She asked in a surprised voice.

   “You are the princess, if I would have known I would have been more responsive.”

   “That is okay. You were responsive enough. Now get up. When I want you to fall to your knees, I will tell you.” She giggled.

   “Yes, milady.” He got up. They entered the palace. His eyes still never looked up from the floor. 

   “You can look around.”

   “That is fine milady.”

   She stopped. “Do you always look down?” 

   He took his cue from her and stopped as well. “Yes.”

   “I noticed that behavior at the dress shop. Why?”

   “One of my owners thought I was cheating with his wife. He didn’t like the way I looked at her. Ever since then, I have chosen to look at the ground.”

   “Did you?”

   “No, milady.”

   “What did he do to you?”

   “What most owners do.”

   “I want you to look around. See where you are.”

   He lifted his eyes. The stone walls were lined with huge framed paintings. Horse size chandeliers hung from the ceiling that was 10 feet above his head. They started walking. Every now and then there were suits of armor, busts, and tapestries. He had never seen such beauty. A large man opened a heavy wooden door. She motioned for Michael to enter. Inside was a grand bedroom. A woman came walking toward them. He quickly lowered his glance back to the floor. 

   “Give the boxes to Anna.” He extended his arms toward her. She took the boxes. “Get those ready for tonight please.”

   “Yes milady.” Came her quick heavy reply as she disappeared from the room.

   “Have you figured out your function yet?”

   “No, milady.”

   “What do you think it is?”

   “Whatever you tell me it will be?”

   “Very good.” She smiled. His glance was still on the floor. “Look at me.” He did as he was told. “You are going to be my love slave. You are going to put that wonderfully hard body to use pleasing me.”

   “Yes my lady.”

   “Have you ever done anything like this before?”

   “No, milady.”

   “That is okay. I will teach you what I want you to know. Kiss me.”

   He was very timid. His actions were slow and clumsy. He took her face in his hands. They were rough but he was gentle. He had never kissed anyone before. He tried to mimic the actions that she was feeding him. He forgot about being scared and started enjoying himself. She raised her hands; he ended the kiss.

   “Wow!” She cleared her throat. “Now you see that wasn’t so bad. You are a good kisser.”

   “Thank you,” came a meek reply. “You are great as well.”

   “There is no need to compliment me. Come, I want you to meet someone. Remember to say yes sir, kneel on one knee, and speak when spoken to.”

   “Yes, milady.” He hesitated a moment, “may I ask milady a question?”

   “Ask away.”

   He lowered his head; his straight blond hair fell like a veil around his face.

   “Don’t worry. I will keep you in line.”

Today was a special day for Juliah. She skipped down the white paved streets of Shyreka, smiling widely at the people she met. ‘Her subjects’, she giggled to herself. 

   She would never have to be bothered with the burden of ruling. She gladly let Orion shoulder that responsibility.

   Today was all about her. Today was her 22nd birthday. She was on her way to buy a dress for the party in her honor tonight. She could have had a dress made but shopping was much more fun than having something made for you. 

   The best shop in town had a sign on the door, Free Gift with Purchase of Formal Wear. She was well greeted at the door by a short, stocky salesman. He shook her hand anxiously followed by a low bow. He showed her his best dresses. She finally selected a light blue satin dress that was three inches above her knees. Her long, silky sandy blond hair was longer than her dress. It had just enough material to cover what was needed. She would have to be careful or every man at the dance would get a free hormonal rise at her expense and embarrassment. 

   “Now milady,” said the kindly salesman. “Let’s pick out your free gift.” He led her to a small room in the back of the shop. They stood in front of a large window; behind the window were two tall, handsome young men.

   “Can they see us,” she asked.

   “No, oh no.” He replied.

   “Why are you giving them away?” Her voice told the salesman that she expected something was wrong with his free gift plan.

   “Oh milady, everything is legal and proper. You will get all of his papers.”

   “Very well. Will you ask them to bend over from the waist and turn around?”

   He repeated her command into a microphone. They obeyed.

   “The blond one has a nice behind,” she observed out loud. 

   “Would you prefer him, milady?”

   “What is wrong with the black-haired one?”

   “His former owner said he would have made a better preacher than a worker. He talks more than he works.”

   “Tell them to spread their legs.” Once again, he repeated her command, “and the blond one?”

   “He is twenty-eight. He has been here two weeks; all he has done is sleep. His former owner said he has been worked so hard that he could no longer perform manual labor.”

   “What did he mean my manual labor?”

   “The owner was a farmer. I am assuming he was talking about lifting heavy objects, plowing, stuff of that nature.”

   Each man was dressed in a G-String for the showing. Both men had great muscles all over their bodies.

   “Tell them to turn around and squat.” She noticed slash marks on the blonde ones back. With each command he looked down toward the ground. The other one was trying in vain to see through the glass.

   “Tell them to turn to the side. Do I have to buy them decent clothing to wear in the streets?”

   “No, an outfit is included, milady. So, would you like one of them?”

   “Yes, yes, I would like the blonde one.”

   “Very well.” The salesman motioned to a clerk to get the blonde one ready. “Let’s go pick out your shoes, milady.” She followed him out of the room. “Would you like these in boxes or bags?”

   “Boxes are fine.”

   The clerk soon emerged with the blonde dressed in denim jeans and a t-shirt. 

   “He can pack the boxes,” Juliah ordered.