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sts。〃
She worked with an odd sort of tenderness。 It reminded him of the way a person would care for a dog。 He fell against her； unable to hold himself up。 He wouldn't lean against her for support if he had the strength not to； but he didn't。 She let him stay where he was as she scrubbed。 He wondered who the dinner invitation was from； but didn't ask。
Denna told him anyway。 〃Queen Milena herself has asked us to join her and her guests for dinner。 Quite an honor； for someone as low as you； wouldn't you say？〃。
He only nodded； not having enough strength to speak。
Queen Milena。 So they were in her castle。 He guessed that didn't surprise him。 Where else would she have had time to take him？ When she was finished； she allowed him one hour of sleep； to rest for dinner。 He slept at her feet。
She woke him with her boot instead of the Agiel。 He almost cried at her mercy and heard himself thanking her profusely for her kindness to him。 She gave him instructions as to his behavior。 He would have his chain hooked to her belt； and was to keep his eyes to her； speak to no one unless they spoke to him first； and then only if he looked to her first for permission to answer。 He would not be allowed to sit at the table； but would sit on the floor； and if he behaved himself； he would be given something to eat。
He promised to do as she wished。 The idea of sitting on the floor sounded wonderful to him： to be able to rest； and not have to stand； or be hurt。 And to be allowed something to eat； at last。 He would make sure he did nothing to displease her； or to keep her from giving him food。
Richard's brain was in a fog as he followed behind Denna； attached to her by the chain on his collar； concentrating on keeping the proper amount of slack。 The manacles were off his wrists； but the cuts from them were red and swollen； and throbbed painfully。 He vaguely remembered some of the rooms they passed through。
In the room with other people； Denna stopped as she strode around； talking briefly with finely dressed people。 Richard kept his eyes on her braid。 The braid had obviously been done over for the dinner； the vigorous use of the Agiel caused it to loosen； and freed stray wisps of hair。 She must have done it over while she had let him sleep。
He found himself thinking about how beautiful her hair really was； how much finer she looked than any of the other women at the dinner。 He knew people were staring at him； at his sword； as he was led around the room by his collar and chain。 He reminded himself that his pride was locked away for the time being。 This was about getting a chance to rest； to eat； and about having her not hurt him for a while。
Richard bowed and stayed bowed while Denna spoke to the Queen。 The Queen and the Mord…Sith gave only a bow of the head to each other。 The Princess was at the Queen's side。 Richard thought about how Princess Violet had treated Rachel； and had to return his thoughts to Denna's braid。
As she sat at the table； Denna snapped her fingers and pointed at the floor behind her chair。 He knew what she wanted and sat on the floor； crossing his legs。 Denna sat to the left of the Queen； to the right of Princess Violet； who eyed him coldly。 Richard recognized some of the Queen's advisors。 He smiled to himself。 The court artist wasn't among them。 The head table was higher than the others； but sitting on the floor； Richard couldn't see many of the gathered guests。
〃Since you don't eat meat；〃 the Queen said to Denna。 〃I had the cooks prepare a special dinner I know you will enjoy。 Some wonderful soups and vegetables； and some rare fruits。〃
Denna smiled and thanked her。 While she was eating； a server brought her a plain bowl on a tray。
〃For my pet；〃 she told him； interrupting her conversation only briefly。
The man took the bowl from the tray and handed it down to Richard。 It was some sort of gruel； but to Richard； as he held the bowl in his trembling hands； preparing to drink it down； it looked like the best meal he had ever seen。
〃If he's your pet；〃 Princess Violet said； 〃why do you allow him to eat like that？〃
Denna looked over to the Princess。 〃What do you mean？〃
〃Well； if he's your pet〃…the Princess smiled…〃he should eat off the floor； without his hands。〃
Denna grinned； a glint in her eye。 〃Do as she says。〃
〃Put it on the floor；〃 Princess Violet said； 〃and eat it like a dog； for us all to see。 Let everyone see that the Seeker is no better than a dog。〃
Richard was too hungry to do anything to lose his meal。 He concentrated on a mental image of Denna's braid and set the bowl carefully on the floor as he glanced into Princess Violet's eyes； to her smirk； and ate the gruel to the sound of laughter。 He licked the bowl clean； telling himself it was because he needed the strength； in case he ever got the chance to use it。
After the Queen and her guests had finished eating； a man in chains was brought in and made to stand in the center of the room。 Richard recognized him。 He was one of the men Kahlan had freed from the dungeon。 They exchanged a brief look of understanding； despair。
There was talk of crimes and foul deeds done。 Richard did his best to ignore it； he knew it was merely a pretext。 The Queen gave a short lecture on the man's crimes； then turned to the Princess
〃Perhaps the Princess would like to pronounce this man's punishment？〃
Princess Violet stood； beaming。 〃For his crimes against the Crown； one hundred lashes。 Then； for his crimes against the people； his head。〃
A murmur of agreement swept the room。 Richard felt sick； but at the same time he wished he could exchange places with the man。 The one hundred lashes would be easy； and there would be an axe at the end of it。
Princess Violet turned to Denna as she sat back down。 〃Sometime I would enjoy seeing how you handle your punishments。〃
〃Stop down anytime you wish。〃 Denna glanced over her shoulder。 〃I'll let you watch。〃
When they were back in the stone room； Denna wasted no time in getting his shirt off； and he was soon hanging from the beam again。 She coolly informed him that his eyes had strayed too much at dinner。 Richard's heart sank。 The shackles around his wrists burned into his flesh once more。 Denna's talents had him covered in sweat in no time； gasping for air； crying out in agony。 She told him it was still early and she wanted to get in a lot of training before the evening ended。
Richard's muscles flexed and tightened； lifting him off the floor as Denna twisted the Agiel into his back。 He begged her to stop； but she didn't。 When he sagged once more in the shackles； he saw a silhouette in the doorway。
〃I like the way you can make him beg；〃 Princess Violet said。
The Mord…Sith smiled to her。 〃e closer； my dear； and I'll show you more。〃
Denna hugged him with one arm； pressing herself into his wounds。 She kissed his ear and whispered to him。 〃Let's show the Princess how well you can beg； shall we？〃
Richard vowed to himself he wouldn't； but it wasn't long before he broke his vow。 Denna put on a demonstration for Princess Violet； showing her the different ways she could hurt him。 She seemed proud to show off her talents。
〃Can I try？〃 the Princess asked。
Denna…looked down at her a moment。 〃Why； of course； my dear。 I'm sure my pet wouldn't mind。〃 She smiled at him。 〃Now would you？〃 〃Please； Mistress Denna； don't let her。 Please。 She's just a little girl。 I'll do anything you say； but don't let her。 Please。〃
〃There； you see； my dear； he doesn't mind at all。〃
Denna handed her the Agiel。
Princess Violet stood grinning up at him while she fingered the Agiel。 Experimentally； she poked it at his thigh muscle； happy at the way it made him flinch in pain。 Pleased with the results； she walked around him； poking it into his flesh。
〃It's easy！〃 she said。 〃I never thought it would be this easy to make someone bleed。〃
Denna stood with her arms folded across her breasts； watching him with a smile while the Princess became bolder。 It wasn't long before her cruelty came fully to the surface。 She delighted in her new game。