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the crater rim took money to abandon their posts.   They were later killed by the F’rar.   I’m sure there were others.”
    â€œTell me more!”
    â€œSo eager!”   He laughed again.   “Eventually, the F’rar got into the south defenses of the bluff.   But before that happened, I saw a curious thing, what looked like a wine cart being ridden off to the East.   A band of F’rar chased it, and eventually they overtook it.   And I said to myself, ‘I must have that cart!’”
    I must have looked pensive, because he leaned closer to the fire and said, “What are you thinking, Ransom?   That will be my name for you, I believe, since you refuse to give me your own.”
    I nodded absently, thinking of general Xarr...
    â€œAnd now,” the Mighty announced, “we will have that dessert!   My women are excellent cooks!”
    â€œYour...harem?”
    â€œOf course!   Every Yern of import must have one.   And the women fight to be part of it!”
    â€œDon’t the women ever...object?”
    His smile faded.   “What is this silliness?   Are we going to discuss Yern savagery again?   These are the ways of my people, how it ever was!”
    My own ire was building.   “And if the women were to object?”
    â€œThey would be beaten!   And rightly so!”
    â€œThis is just?”
    He threw his paws up.   “I should have known better than to discuss things of import with one like you.   You are not Yern!   You do not understand!”
    â€œI don’t suppose you consider me part of your harem now, do you?” I said defiantly.
    â€œWho are you, that you speak to the Mighty like this!”   He stood, angry.   “You are a guest, and one with kith!   Of course you are not part of my harem!   But tonight you will sleep with them!”
    He stalked off, and in a moment one of the women I had seen in the large tent appeared out of the shadows.
    â€œYou must come with me.”   She had a sly smile on her face.
    When I started to protest, she said, “Now.   He is very angry.”
    I followed her into the tent, where the other woman was making up a bed of pillows in one corner.
    â€œYou will sleep here,” she said in the direct tones of a head servant brooking no discussion.   When she turned to regard me she had the same cunning smile on her face.
    â€œVery well,” I said.
    The two of them retreated behind a curtain deeper into the tent.
    â€œHe will be angry, but it will be worth it,” one of them said to the other, and then the two of them tittered.
    I lay down on the bed they had made me, and immediately noticed an odd smell, which only grew in intensity.   I began to gag.
    Almost immediately the Mighty appeared, and when he saw me his face flushed in anger.
    â€œWhat is the meaning of this?   Who told you to sleep with the dogs?”
    I got up, disgusted.   “And your dogs are not trained to relieve themselves outside?”
    â€œThey do what they wish.   As do I.”  
    He threw open the back curtain to reveal the two cowering women behind it.   In a moment the curtain dropped, and I heard the sounds of paw striking flesh and pitiful mewling.
    I was about to push open the curtain and intercede when he reappeared, flushed with his exertions.   But his ire had subsided.
    â€œThey will wait on you hand and foot from now on,” he said, in an apologetic tone.   “I should have known something like this would happen.   The ways of women...”
    He must not have liked the look on my face, because he stormed toward me, his anger rising again.   “For your information, Ransom,” he said, “my mother headed this tribe before me.   She had her own harem – of men.”
    He stalked out.  
    In another moment the two chastened women appeared from behind the curtain.   The