Mina faces the truth

"I do not know your name," Mina said to me.

She keeps my rented room clean. Spotless, actually. I think she is probably useless as a serving slave in a rough tavern situated on a nameless canal in Port Kar. It would explain why the Tavern Master sends her to my room as often as he does. I suppose it could be recompense for the use of Tasta on the tavern floor. More than once she has quelled the notion of violence with little more than a twitch of her tail and the deep tones of her impatient growl. Of course, my room is already discounted to take into account the use of the sleen. I am not offended by the girl's constant presence, and she is learning to row the small, green boat well enough to avoid my belt across her ass on most days. Why should I pull an oar when there is a perfectly apt beast called Mina to do so for me?

"Would Mina like the privilege of addressing me by my name?" I asked.

She paused, on the alert for a misstep, but answered truthfully, "I would like the privilege of knowing my Master's name and, if he deemed it acceptable, the privilege of addressing him by name. Yes," she said.

Huh.

"I am not your Master," I answered her. "At least in legal terms."

"But..." she said.

"But, I have used you. I have put you to my pleasure. Beaten you as I found it necessary, or enjoyable to do so," I said, anticipating her objection.

"Yes," she said, her chin down, flaming with a genuine embarrassment. Silly girl.

"You are not branded," I pointed out. "You do not wear my collar. Or any collar," I said.

"I am kept here, put to work," she argued.

"There is little doubt you are a slave," I shrugged. "You belong to the Tavern Master. You do not belong to me."

"I do not want to be a slave," she said.

"It did not occur to me to ask your preference in the matter," I answered. "I do not think it occurred to the Tavern Master to find out what the Lady Philomena wanted when she was sold to him."

"I was sold," she said. It was a confirmation of what I said more than a question or a denial. Her curious tone was due to the fact that she had never said the words aloud to herself.

"That is true," I nodded.

"I am property," she said.

"A thing that may be bought, sold, put to the purposes of another," I added.

"Why do you say it like that?" she asked. "'Put to the purposes of another,'" she said, brows knitting.

"Be pleased you have a purpose," I said. "Be pleased that you are not entirely useless."

"Have I pleased you?" she asked.

"Slut," I said. "That is the query of a slave. Mina does not want to be a slave."

"She has no choice," Mina answered, her voice lowered to a whisper.

"You wished to know if I am pleased with your service?" I asked.

"Yes," she stammered.

"My room is cleaned each day," I answered. "If I leave clothing on the floor, it is laundered and folded before I return. This pleases me."

"Oh," she said.

"Mina wishes to know if she pleases me in other, more physical ways?" I asked.

"Yes, Master," she said, tugging at the hem of her skirt shyly. It was little more than a bar rag. It might have actually been a bar rag.

"Yes," I answered. "You have learned to row the small, green boat well enough not to be whipped every day."

"Master!" she exclaimed. "Do not tease me. Please!"

"What do you wish to know, Mina?" I asked.

"Am I any good?" she said.

"You are good enough," I answered truthfully.

"Good enough?" she asked. "But you...you...you exert yourself well, and at length with me. You...you...you finish in me!?" she added, her blush furious from the apple of her cheeks to the cradle of her bosom. "You make me feel things. Shameful things. Unspeakable things!"

"You juice well. And you are an eager, little lay," I said to her. These things were true.

"Please do not say such things, Master," she begged.

"You are juicing right now, Mina," I said.

"Master!" she cried.

"You are hoping I throw you to your belly," I said. "You are hoping I rape you."

"Yes!" she said angrily. "Yes! I am hoping you rape me! I am hoping you put me to your purposes! I am hoping you exert yourself well and at length with me! I am hoping you finish in me!"

"Slut," I laughed.

"Master!" she cried again. "I have admitted all to you! Everything! I am an eager, little lay. I am juicing! I am hoping you rape me! What more do you want from me?!"

"Beg," I said.