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r hungry。 You had no dinner； you eat it。〃
Richard looked at the pear in her hand as she held it toward him。 〃No； Mistress Denna。 It's yours。 Not mine。〃
〃I know whose it is； Richard。〃 Her voice was still quiet； 〃Do as I say。〃
He took the pear； eating it all； even the seeds。 Denna knelt down and started washing him。 He had no idea what was going on； but the washing hurt； although it was nothing to pare with the Agiel。 He wondered why she was doing this； when it was time to train him again。
Denna seemed to sense his apprehension。 〃I have a backache。〃
〃I'm sorry； Mistress Denna； I've caused it by my behavior。〃
〃Be quiet；〃 she said gently。 〃I want to sleep on something hard； for my back。 I will sleep on the floor。 Since I will sleep on the floor； you will have to sleep in my bed； and I don't want your blood in it。〃
Richard was a little perplexed。 The floor was certainly big enough for the two of them； and she had certainly gotten his blood in her bed before。 It had never bothered her in the past。 He decided it was not his place to question； and so didn't。
〃All right；〃 she said when she had finished； 〃get in the bed。〃
He lay down while she watched him。 With resignation； he picked up the Agiel from the side table and held it out to her； the pain from it hurting his arm。 He wished she weren't going to do this to him tonight。
Denna took the Agiel from him and returned it to the table。 〃Not tonight。 I told you； I have a backache。〃 She blew out the lamp。 〃Go to sleep。'。〃
He heard her lie on the floor； whispering a curse to herself。 He was too exhausted to think； and was asleep in a short time。
When the peal of the bell woke him； Denna was already up。 She had cleaned the blood from her white outfit； and had fixed her braid。 She said nothing to him as they walked to the devotion。 It was painful for him to kneel； and he was glad when it was finished。 He didn't see Constance。 Walking behind Denna； he began to turn toward the training room； but she didn't； and the chain pulled taut。 The pain brought him up short。
〃We're not going that way；〃 she said。
〃Yes； Mistress Denna。〃
She walked awhile； down halls that stretched forever； then gave him an impatient look。 〃Walk next 。to me。 We're going for a walk。 It's something I enjoy doing occasionally。 When my back hurts。 It helps me。〃
〃I'm sorry； Mistress Denna。 I was hoping it would be better by this morning。〃
She glanced at him； then looked back to where she was going。 〃Well； it's not。 So we will go for a walk。〃
Richard had never been this far from Denna's quarters before。 His eyes took little journeys to the new sights。 At intervals； there were places just like the one where they went for their devotions； opened to the sky and the sun； each with a rock in the center； and a bell。 Some had grass instead of sand； and some even a pool of water that the rock sat in。 Fish glided in groups through the clear water。 The halls were sometimes wide as rooms； with patterned tiles on the floor； arches and columns all about and ceilings soaring high above。 Windows let light stream into these places； making them bright and airy
People were everywhere； most in robes of white or some other pale color。 No one ever seemed in a hurry； but most seemed as if they had a place to go； although a few sat on marble benches。 Richard saw few soldiers。 Most people walked past Denna and him as if they were invisible； but a few smiled and exchanged a greeting with her。
The size of the place was astounding； the halls and passages stretched out of sight。 Wide stairs led up or down to unknown parts of the great edifice。 One hall had statues of naked people in proud poses。 The statues were made of carved and polished stone； mostly white； some with gold veining through it； and each was twice as tall as he。 Richard never saw one place that was dark； or ugly； or dirty； everything he saw was beautiful。 The sound of people's footsteps echoed through the halls like reverent whispers。 Richard wondered how a place as large as this could even be conceived of； much less built。 It must have taken lifetimes。
Denna led them to a sprawling square that was open to the sky。 Full…grown trees covered the mossy ground； and a path of brown clay tiles meandered through the center of the indoor forest。 They strolled along the path； Richard looking up at the trees。 They were beautiful； even if they were bare of leaves。
Denna watched him。 〃You like the trees； don't you。〃
He nodded； looking about。 〃Very much； Mistress Denna；〃 he whispered。
〃Why do you like them？〃
Richard thought a moment。 〃It seems they are part of my past。 I can dimly recall that I was a guide。 A woods guide； I think。 But I don't remember much about it； Mistress Denna。 Except I liked the woods。〃
〃Being broken makes you forget things from before；〃 she said quietly。 〃The more I train you； the more you will forget the past； except specific questions I ask you。 Soon； you will remember none of it。〃
〃Yes； Mistress Denna。 Mistress Denna； what is this place？〃
〃It's called the People's Palace。 It's the seat of power in D'Hara。 IC is the home of Master Rahl。〃
They had lunch in a different place than they usually ate。 She had him sit in a chair； he didn't know why。 They went to the afternoon devotion at one of the places with water instead of sand； and after devotion； they walked some more through the vast halls； to find themselves back in familiar territory for dinner。 The walking made him feel better。 His muscles had needed to be stretched。
After the evening devotion； in the little room in her quarters； Denna locked his arms behind his back in the binding device； and hoisted it up； but not enough to take the weight off his feet。 It still brought the pain back to his sore shoulders； but it made him wince only a little。
〃Is your back better； Mistress Denna？ Did the walking help？〃
〃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 e 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 Denna。〃
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。 Denna kept a close watch on her； guiding more than she had in the past。 Constance didn't like it； sometimes glaring at Denna。 When Constance was rougher than Denna wished； she wasn't invited for the next session。
With the lighter training sessions； his head started to clear； and he began remembering things； things about his past。 A few times； when Denna's back hurt； they went for long walks； looking at the various； astonishingly beautiful places。
After an afternoon devotion one day； Constance asked if she could e along。 Denna smiled and said yes。 Constance asked to do the training； and was given permission。 She was rougher than usual； and had Richard in prolonged agony； tears of pain streaming down his cheeks。 Richard was hoping Denna would put a stop to it； as he was on his last strings of tolerance。 As Denna came out of her chair； a man came into the room。
〃Mistress Denna； Master Rahl has requested you。〃
〃When？〃
〃Right now。〃
Denna gave a sigh。 〃Constance； would you finish the session？〃
Constance looked into Richard's eyes and smiled。 〃Why； of course； Den