 Civil Law |
 PrefectsThese are relevant references from the Books where Prefects are mentioned. I make no pronouncements on these matters, but report them as I find them. Arrive at your own conclusions. I wish you well, Fogaban I looked about, through the curtain, at the guests of the Lady Florence, other than the Lady Melpomene. The fellow from Venna, clad in white and gold, was Philebus, a bounty creditor. He was known to the merchants of several cities. Such men buy bills at discount and then set themselves to collect, as they can, their face value. They are tenacious in their trade. I did not know the business of the two men from Ar. They were Tenalion, and his man, Ronald. The fourth man was Brandon. He was from Vonda. He was a prefect in that city. His certifications on certain documents would be important. The two ladies, both of Vonda, were Leta and Perimene, both friends of the Ladies Florence and Melpomene. As free citizens of Vonda they could witness legal transactions. Fighting Slave of Gor Book 14 Page 277 She handed the draft to the Lady Melpomene. The Lady Melpomene handed her back the loan note. Philebus of Venna went to the table of the Lady Melpomene and took the draft. He looked at it, and was satisfied, and placed it in his pouch. The loan note was carried by the Lady Florence herself to the prefect and to the Lady Leta and the Lady Perimene. These, with their signatures, and the prefect with a stamp also, certified and witnessed the loan note. Pamela and Bonnie, incidentally, the two enslaved Gorean beauties in attendance on the tables, did not fetch or carry the documents about. This had been done by Philebus of Venna and the Lady Florence. Slaves, generally, are not permitted to touch legal documents. They are slaves. Fighting Slave of Gor Book 14 Pages 278 - 279 "Am I not your single and full creditor?" asked the Lad Florence. "Yes," whispered the Lady Melpomene. Then, grandly, loftily, the Lady Florence lifted up the lone note from the table before her. "I demand payment," said the Lady Florence. "I demand that you now pay me the sum of one thousand, four hundred and twenty tarns of gold." "I cannot pay you now," said the Lady Melpomene. "You know that." The Lady Florence turned to look upon Brandon, who was a prefect in Vonda. He jotted down something on a paper before him. "You cannot do this!" cried out the Lady Melpomene. "Such notes as that I hold," said the Lady Florence, "are due, as you must know, upon the demand of the creditor." "Yes, yes!" cried the Lady Melpomene, clenching her small fists. "But I did not dream you would desire to achieve so hasty a closure on your note." "Such is my prerogative," said the Lady Florence, imperiously. "You must give me time to recoup my fortunes!" cried the Lady Melpomene. "I do not choose to do so," said the Lady Florence. "Is it your intention to bring about my total ruin?" asked the Lady Melpomene. "My intentions go far beyond your ruin," said the Lady Florence. "I do not understand," said the Lady Melpomene. "A demand for payment has been made, Lady Melpomene," said Brandon, a prefect of Vonda. "Can you pay?" "You have lured me here," cried out the Lady Melpomene to the Lady Florence, "away from Vonda, beyond the shelter of her walls!" "The walls of Vonda," said the prefect sternly, "would no longer afford you protection, for your debt, in its plenitude, is now owed to one who is a citizen of Vonda." The Lady Melpomene shuddered. "I have been tricked," she said. "Can you pay?" pressed the prefect. "No," she cried in misery, "no!" "Kneel, Lady Melpomene, free woman of Vonda," said the prefect. "Please, no!" she wept. "Would you rather this be done on the platform of public shame in the great square of Vonda, where you might bring shame upon the Home Stone!" inquired the prefect. "No, no," sobbed the Lady Melpomene. "Kneel," said the prefect. "What is to be my sentence?" she cried. "Kneel," said he. She knelt, trembling, fearfully, before him. "I pronounce you Slave," he said. "No," she cried, "no!" But it had been done. "Let her be collared," he said. The girl put her head down, sobbing. |       
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