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After the evening devotion, in the little room in her quarters, De
"Is your back better, Mistress De
"It's nothing I can't tolerate."
She walked slowly around him, watching the floor. She stopped at last in front of him, rolling the Agiel in her fingers for a time, scrutinizing it.
Her eyes didn't come up. Her voice was hardly more than a whisper. "Tell me you think I'm ugly."
He looked at her until her eyes finally came up. "No. That would be a lie."
A sad smile spread on her lips. "That was a mistake, my love. You have disobeyed my direct order, and you have forgotten the appellation."
"I know, Mistress De
Her eyes closed, but a little of the strength came back to her voice. "You are nothing but trouble. I don't know why Master Rahl burdened me with your training. You have earned yourself two hours."
She gave him his two hours, not as hard as she usually did, but hard enough to make him cry in pain. After the training, she told him that her back still hurt, and slept on the floor again, having him sleep in the bed.
The next few days went back to the regular routine, the training not being as long or as strenuous as before, except when Constance was there. De
With the lighter training sessions, his head started to clear, and he began remembering things, things about his past. A few times, when De
After an afternoon devotion one day, Constance asked if she could come along. De
"Mistress De
"When?"
"Right now."
De
Constance looked into Richard's eyes and smiled. "Why, of course, De
Richard was terrified, but didn't dare say a word.
"His time is nearly up, just take him back to my quarters and leave him there. I'm sure I won't be long."
"My pleasure, De
De
"Constance"-De
Constance was caught off guard. "In your absence, I'm in charge of him, and I'll do as I wish."
De
"I'll do as I…"
"You will not." De
De
Constance finished the session with all the effort she could bring forth, although she kept the Agiel mostly where De
Constance put her face close to his, as best she could, considering her height, and grabbed him between the legs.
"Take good care of this for me," she sneered. "You aren't going to have it much longer. I have reason to believe Master Rahl will shortly be reassigning you to me, and when he does, I'm going to alter your anatomy." A grin spread on her face. "And I don't think you're going to like it."
His anger flashed, bringing on the pain of the magic. It took him to his knees. Constance laughed as she left the room. He managed to get the anger under control, but the pain wouldn't stop until he stood.
Warm sunlight was streaming in the window. He hoped De
It was long since dark out the window, but thankfully the lamps were lit and at least he didn't have to stand in the dark. The two bells a
At last, he heard the door push open. De
"Of course, Mistress Derma."
He dragged the tub in and ran as fast as he could to fill it. He didn't think he had ever done it more quickly. She stood and watched as he brought in bucket after bucket. When he was finished, he stood panting, waiting.
Her trembling fingers started unbuttoning the leather. "Help me with this? I don't think I can do it by myself."
He unbuttoned it for her as she shivered. Wincing, he had to peel it off her back; some of her skin came with it. His heart was pounding. De
"Mistress De
"Master Rahl. It is nothing I did not deserve."
He held her hands and helped her into the tub. She let out a little sound as she sank slowly into the hot water, sitting stiffly.
"Mistress De
She winced when he put the soapy cloth to her back… "Constance told him I was being too easy on you. I deserve what was done to me. I have been lax in your training. I am Mord-Sith. I should have done better. I received only that which I deserve."
"You do not deserve this, Mistress De
Her hands trembled as she held the sides of the tub and he carefully washed her. He gently wiped the sweat off the white skin of her face. She stared ahead the whole time he worked, a few tears rolling down her cheeks.
Her lip quivered. "Tomorrow, Master Rahl will see you." His hand stopped washing for a second. "I'm sorry, Richard. You will answer his questions."
He glanced up at her face, but she didn't look back. "Yes, Mistress De
She gave an embarrassed smile. "I don't think I would like that, just now." She turned her head stiffly. "Over there. I will lie on the bed." She took his hand when he put it out for her. "I can't seem to stop shaking. Why can't I stop shaking?"
"Because it hurts, Mistress De
"I've had much worse than this done to me. This was only a small reminder of who I am. But still, I can't stop shaking."
She lay facedown on the bed, her eyes on him. Richard's worry made his mind start working again.
"Mistress De
"In the cabinet. Why?"
"Just lie still. Mistress De
He pulled his pack from a high shelf in the cabinet, laid it on the table, and-started rummaging through it. De
"Mistress De
"Why?„
"Please?"
"Go ahead."
Richard took the entire pile of neatly stacked, dried aum leaves and put them in the tin bowl, then selected a few other herbs he remembered by smell, but not by name, and dumped them in with the aum leaves. With the knife handle, he ground it all into a powder. Picking up the jar of cream, he scooped it all out and plopped it into the bowl, mixing it with two fingers. He took the bowl and sat on the bed next to her.
"Just lie still," he told her.
"The appellation, Richard, the appellation. Will you never learn?"
"Sorry, Mistress De
'He spread the paste gently on the welts, smoothing it out as he went. De
"How does that feel, Mistress De