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One day； after the afternoon devotion； when Constance had gone off to train someone else； Denna took him back to the little room adjacent to her quarters for his afternoon training。 She hoisted him up by the rope until he was。 hardly able to touch the floor。
〃Mistress Denna； with your permission； would you allow Mistress Constance to do all my training from now on？〃 His question had an effect he hadn't expected。 It enraged her。 She stared at him； her face turning a deep red； then she started hitting him with the Agiel； driving it into him； screaming at him； telling him how worthless he was； how insignificant； how she was sick of his talking。 Denna was strong； and she beat him with the Agiel as hard as she could。 It went on and on。
Richard couldn't remember her being so angry； so severe； so cruel。 Soon he couldn't remember anything； even where he was。 He convulsed in pain。 He couldn't say anything or beg her to stop； or even breathe most of the time。 She never slowed or let up。 She just seemed to get angrier as she hurt him。 He saw blood on the floor； a lot of blood。 It splattered all over her white leather。 Her chest heaved with her effort； her rage。 Her braid came loose。
Denna grabbed his hair and yanked his head back。 She gave him no warning。 She drove the Agiel in his ear harder than she ever had。 She did it again and again。 Time distorted into eternity。 He no longer knew who he was； or what was happening。 He no longer tried to beg； to cry； to hold on。
She stopped； standing next to him； panting in ire。 〃I'm going to dinner。〃 He felt the agony of the magic e on in him。 He gasped； his eyes going wide。 〃While I'm gone； and I'm going to take my time； I've leaving the pain of the magic on you。 You will not be able to pass out； or to stop it。 If you let the anger get away from you； it will make the pain worse。 And it will get away from you。 I promise。〃
She went to the wall and hoisted the rope up until his feet were off the floor。 Richard cried out。 His arms felt as if they would be torn out。
〃Enjoy yourself。〃 She turned on her heels and left。
Richard balanced on the edge of sanity and madness； the suffering twisting in him； making him unable to control the anger； as she had promised。 The flames of his hurt consumed him。 It was somehow worse that she wasn't there。 He had never felt so alone； so helpless； and the pain wouldn't even let him cry； he could only gasp in agony。
He had no idea how long he was left alone。 He was aware only of suddenly dropping to the floor； then Denna's boots to either side of his head as she stood over him。 She turned off the pain of the magic； but his arms were still clamped helplessly behind his back； and the burning inferno of pain in his shoulders didn't extinguish。 He cried against the blood on the floor as she stood over him。
〃I told you before；〃 she hissed through gritted teeth； 〃you are my mate for life。〃 He could hear her heavy breathing； the rage in her。 〃Before I begin doing worse to you； and you are no longer able to speak； I want you to tell me why you asked to have…Constance train you instead of me。〃
He coughed up blood； trying to speak。
〃That is not the way you talk to me！ On your knees！ Now！〃
He tried to get to his knees； but with his arms behind his back； he was unable to。 Denna took a fistful of his hair and pulled him up。 Dizzy； he fell against her； his face against the wet blood on her belly。 His blood。
She pushed him away from her with the tip of the Agiel against his forehead。 That brought his eyes open。 He looked up at her； to answer。
Denna backhanded him across the…mouth。 〃Look at the ground when you speak to me！ No one gave you permission to look at me！〃 Richard looked down at her boots。 〃You're running out of time！ Answer the question！〃
Richard coughed up more blood； it ran down his chin； and he had to struggle to keep from vomiting。 〃Because； Mistress Denna；〃 he said hoarsely； 〃I know it hurts you to hold the Agiel。 I know it hurts you to train me。 I wanted Mistress Constance to do it； to spare you the pain。 I don't want you to hurt。 I know what it feels like to hurt； you have taught me。 You have already been hurt enough； I don't want you to hurt any more。 I would rather have Mistress Constance punish me than have you be in pain。〃
He strove to balance himself on his knees。 There was a long silence。 Richard stared at her boots； and coughed a little； struggling to breathe with the pain in his shoulders。 The silence seemed as if it would never end。 He didn't know what she was going to do to him next。
〃I don't understand you； Richard Cypher；〃 she said softly； at last； the anger gone from her voice。 〃The spirits take me； I don't understand you。〃 She walked behind him； unhooked the device that held his arms； and walked out of the room without another word。 He couldn't straighten out his arms properly； and fell on his face。 He didn't try to get up； he only cried against the bloody floor。
After a time； he heard the bell； calling them to the evening devotion。 Denna came back in； squatted down next to him； put her arm gently around him； and helped him to his feet。
〃We are not allowed to miss a devotion；〃 she explained in a quiet voice； hooking the chain to her belt。
The sight of his blood all over the white lather was shocking。 There were strings of it across her face and in her hair。 As they walked to the devotion； people who usually spoke to her averted their eyes and gave her wide passage。 Kneeling with his head to the floor hurt his ribs； making it hard to breathe； much less chant。 He didn't know if he was getting the words right； but Denna didn't correct him； so he just went on。 How he stayed upright the whole time； without tipping over； he didn't know。
When the bell rang twice； Denna rose； but didn't help him。 Constance appeared； a rare grin on her face。
〃My； my； Denna； looks like you've been having fun。〃 Constance backhanded him； but he managed to stay on his feet。 〃Been a bad boy； have you？〃
〃Yes； Mistress Constance。〃
〃Very bad； it would appear。 How delightful。〃 Her hungry eyes turned to Denna。 〃I'm free。 Let's go teach him what two Mord…Sith can really do。〃
〃No； not tonight； Constance。〃
〃No？ What do you mean； no？〃
Denna exploded。 〃I mean no！ He is my mate； and I'm taking him back to train him as such！ Do you wish to e and watch when I lie with my mate！ Do you want to watch； too； what I do when I have the Agiel between my teeth！〃
Richard shrank back。 So that was what she had planned。 If she did that to him tonight； as badly as he was already hurt 。 。 。
People in white robes…missionaries； Denna had called them…were staring。 Constance glared back and they hurried off。 Both women's faces were red…Denna's from anger； Constance's from embarrassment。
〃Of course not； Denna；〃 she said in a low voice。 〃I'm sorry
I didn't know。 I will leave you to it。〃 She gave Richard a smirk。 〃You look to be in enough trouble already； my boy。 I_ hope you are up to' your duties。〃
She gave him a jab in the stomach with her Agiel； and walked off。 Dizzy； Richard put his hand across himself with a moan。 Denna's hand e up under his arm； holding him up。 Denna glared after Constance； then started off； expecting him to follow。 He； did。
When they were back in Denna's quarters； she gave him the bucket。 He almost collapsed at the thought of filling her tub。
Her voice was quiet。 〃Go and get one bucket of hot water。〃
Richard could have died with relief； knowing that he didn't have to fill a tub。 He retrieved the water； a little confused。 She seemed to be angry； but Wasn't directing her anger at him。 After he set the bucket on the floor； he waited with his eyes cast downward。 Denna brought the chair over。 He was surprised she didn't have him do it。
〃Sit down。〃 She went to the table by her bed and came back with a pear。 She looked at it in her hand a moment； turning it around and around； rubbing it a little with her thumb； then held it out to him。 〃I brought this back from dinner。 I find I am no longer hungry。 You had no dinner； you eat it。〃
Richard looked at the pea