The Twainer let him grovel for a while and then she reached for a crop much like Lucy’s own and slapped his bare back with it. Immediately, red blood stained his light green skin. Looking closer, Lucy saw that instead of a rectangle of black leather, there were cruel-looking spikes at the end of Mistress Shin’dara’s crop.
The guard let out a muffled gasp and twitched but didn’t move from his groveling position at the Twainer’s feet, even though she slapped him again and then again until his back was a bloody mess.
“Well? What is it?” she demanded at last, apparently bored with whipping him. “What’s so important that you had to interrupt my breakfast?”
“Forgive me, Mistress!” The guard’s voice came out low and miserable. “I only came to tell you that preparations for the Loyalty Ceremony are underway and the branding set that was stored with your other valuables has been found.”
“Excellent!” Mistress Shin’dara actually sounded pleased for once. “It’s still in good working order, I hope?”
“Yes, Mistress—as far as I know.” The guard’s voice was muffled since he still had his face pressed to her booted feet.
“Good! Then you may go. Anddon’tinterrupt me again!” she snapped.
“Yes, Mistress.” The guard scrambled to his feet and Lucy saw a look of abject misery on his face. He was about to go when Mistress Shin’dara beckoned to him with one finger.
“Come here, manslave—I have a parting present for you,” she purred.
Warily, the guard leaned down towards her.
“Yes, Mistress?” he asked uncertainly.
Quick as a snake striking, the Twainer’s pale hand struck him across the cheek. Lucy heard a flatcrackand the guard’s eyes began to water from the pain of the violent blow, but it was clear he still didn’t dare to move a muscle. A handprint started to form on his cheek at once.
“Now thank me,” Mistress Shin’dara told him, a cruel smile playing around her lips. “Thank me for disciplining you, you disgusting little maggot!”
“Thank you, Mistress!” the guard said quickly. “Thank you for the discipline.”
“You’renotwelcome, you revolting worm of a manslave,” Mistress Shin’dara snapped. “Now get out of here and make certain that branding set is in working order. If it’s not, I’ll have you hung upside down by your balls for the rest of the day!”
The guard bowed again and then exited the Banquet Hall almost at a run. The doors boomed shut behind him and then Mistress Shin’dara turned her attention back to Lucy.
“You must excuse my little display—I’m afraid the guards have all gotten dreadfully lax during my extended absence. I’m having to whip them back into shape and remind them to fear me.”
The Twainer spoke casually, as though abusing and humiliating the guard was all in a day’s work for her, though the display had turned Lucy’s stomach.
“Oh yes—of course.” She nodded, not sure what else to say. What a horrible person the Dark Face of the Twainer was! But there was nothing to do but deal with her and try to keep her composure.
“So, where were we?” Mistress Shin’dara took a sip from her cup of the steaming cinnamon coffee drink. “Ah yes—whyare you here?” she asked Lucy.
Lucy did her best to keep her face impassive and businesslike.
“I came because I had a deal with your Other Half—with Lady Twa’linda,” she said. “I was going to buy some of thedimrielyou mine from the chasm.”
“I see…I see…” The Twainer looked thoughtful.
“I’m hoping we can still do the deal,” Lucy went on, trying to sound like a professional businesswoman, despite the fact that T’zaren was licking her and sucking her outer pussy lips into his hot mouth under the table. He had stopped during the abuse of the guard, but was back at it again now, almost as though he wanted to remind Lucy he was still there and that he had her back if things went wrong.
“So you still want to deal? We shall see,” Mistress Shin’dara purred.
Which was better than an outright “no,” Lucy thought. Though still not as good as a positive “yes.”
“I hope we can see sooner rather than later,” she said pointedly. “I’d like to get thedimrieland leave today if I could. Besides, I’m sure you want to be rid of me and have your stronghold back to yourself again. Since you’ve been away for so long,” she added.
“I may.” Mistress Shin’dara nodded. “It all depends.”
“What does it depend on?” Lucy asked, trying to keep the impatience out of her voice. “I need thedimrieland I’m prepared to make it worth your while to part with some of it. I have an excellent line of credit to work with,” she added enticingly.
“It depends on what you’re willing to pay for it, of course.” The Twainer’s dark eyes flashed. “Andcreditisn’t the only thing I care about—I’m already quite rich, you know. But we can get into that later. For now, I hope you’re enjoying your breakfast?”