Paying the Price

by Julia P. Lynde

Table of Contents

Kidnapped

Parole

A Ship Tour

Testing Limits

Men O' War

Stranded

Rendarin

The Collar

The Trial

My Piece

Confusion

Sentencing

One Year Later

Kidnapped

I struggled with my captors as they carried me swiftly through the streets of Darlor, the capital city of Norinia, but my struggles were ineffective. They had come out of nowhere, using stun stones to incapacitate me and my two bodyguards. The kidnappers had actually been gentle about it, catching the three of us before we'd fallen to the hard cobblestones and then dragging us down a dark alley and into a back door. I had watched helplessly as they had then used sleepy darts on both my bodyguards. I hadn't begun to shake the effects of the stun stone before they'd had slipped a magic block amulet over my neck then had me trussed, gagged, blindfolded, and tossed into a rough leather sack.

My captors had been silent the entire time, speaking not a single word. As soon as I'd could, I had tried to raise a lot of noise, but it was late, and so far I hadn't heard any indication anyone had noticed the small woman sized bundle that was struggling and making noises as it was carried by several sets of arms.

I tried to escape from the bonds they had used on my arms and legs, but they didn't budge. They may have been magicked. If so, I wouldn't be able to release myself short of the spell wearing off or being immersed in salt water. Or, of course, released by whoever had cast the original spell. The blindfold and the gag were equally impossible to remove.

The amulet prevented me from using my magic or I could have been free very quickly.

The sounds changed as they carried me, and I realized we were drawing closer to the harbor. I renewed my struggles, which was rewarded when they dropped me. It hurt. Without a word, they picked me back up and continued our trek.

Then their footsteps changed. Instead of cobblestones, they were walking swiftly across wood. I realized we were on one of the piers. I couldn't let them take me onto a ship! I couldn't! If we made it out to sea, my sister would never know what had happened to me. She wouldn't know where to search for me.

I struggled and yelled, the sounds muffled by the gag, and the struggles limited to wild squirming, and wondered where the guards were that patrolled the docks. Then they took a turn to the right and the sound changed again. They were carrying me up a gangplank.

Then I knew, just knew, they had carried me somewhere below decks.

I was so screwed, but if they wanted me dead, I would be dead. Ransom? I don't think Linara would actually pay it. Instead, she'd hunt for the kidnappers and destroy them. The land of Norinia knew me. The land would tell Linara where I was.

The land knew its princess.

But not if I were at sea. The seas belonged to no one, and the sea didn't know me.

The men carrying me set me down. They were even gentle about it. It felt soft under me, like perhaps I was on a bed.

I continued to struggle but was pushed down onto the bed, then I felt ropes or a net of some sort pulled over me. After that, the people carrying me left and I heard a door close.

I struggled for a long time after that. The bonds were definitely magicked, as were both the blindfold and the gag. I'd have been able to remove them otherwise. I tried to crawl off the bed I was on, but the net pulled over me kept me more or less in place.

Then I heard the sounds of a ship coming to life. I heard clanging and feet on the deck above me. Then the world shifted, and I knew were were pulling slowly away from the pier.

I truly began to panic. "No," I tried screaming through the gag. "No!"

Eventually, my throat raw from screaming, weak from struggling, and dank with sweat and fear, I slept.

Parole

I woke sometime later when the door to my cell opened. From the movements, I could tell immediately we were well at sea.

I was so screwed.

Still, I immediately renewed my screaming and struggles. I felt someone sit down on the bed next to me and put a hand on my hip.

"Don't touch me!" I tried to yell into the gag. Of course, it came out as muffled and unintelligible, even to my own ears. I screamed and screamed into the gag and tried to kick whoever it was with me.

"If you calm down, we can have an intelligent conversation," someone said in accented Norinian. It sounded like a woman's voice.

"Piss off!" I yelled, still trying ineffectively to kick my captor. I struggled and screamed for some time before she rose from the bed.

"I will return later," she said.

"Piss off, bitch!" I yelled. Or tried to yell.

* * *

They left me alone for some time. I couldn't have told you how long. It was hot in the sack. I was thirsty and really needed to relieve myself, but I wouldn't give them the joy of seeing me wet myself. The door opened and someone sat on the bed next to me again.

"Are you ready to talk calmly?" she asked in her odd accent.

She was Tendarian.

I was so screwed.

I didn't answer her.

"I will take your silence as 'yes'," she said. She got off the bed and I felt the net holding me down released slowly. Several people had applied it earlier, but it seemed like perhaps she was in here alone with me. That may prove to be foolishness on her part.

"Let me explain your situation," she said. "You have already guessed you are on a ship at sea. We are outside sight of land, and there are no sails on the horizon. You are alone amongst your captors. There is no escape even if you flee this cabin."

I screamed at her. "You bitch!"

"If it seems you may actually cooperate, I will release you from the sack and remove the gag. Then we will talk. If you do not appear cooperative, I can go away until tomorrow. I imagine you would like to relieve yourself like a lady. I imagine you are thirsty. You may be hungry. I am willing to solve all these needs."

She let me think about it.

"If you would like me to remove you from the sack, say something at a polite volume."

"You bitch," I said, but I said it quietly.

She chuckled. "Would you like to try again. I understood what you said. Do you want me to release you from the sack?"

I didn't respond right away but finally said, "Yes."

"Ah, perhaps you will cooperate."

"Bitch!"

"I understand your anger and feeling of helplessness. Being trussed in the bag isn't helping with that, is it? Last chance to be polite. If I go away, I will not return until tomorrow. You will undoubtedly soil yourself. That will probably bring you a certain amount of embarrassment. Your choice."

It galled me to the bottom of my soul, but I spoke into the gag, "Please release me."

She patted my hip and began work, fumbling with the sack near my feet. It took her a moment, but I felt the mouth of the sack open. She began working the opening up my body. I wriggled this way and that to help her. Finally she pulled it from my head, and I felt relief from the suffocating, sweaty warmth of the sack.

She sat back down on the bed. "As you can guess, all your bonds are magicked. Well, except the sack. It was an ordinary, although somewhat large sack. I cast the spells on your bonds myself. Your guards were unhurt, although this may not have been good for their careers."

I didn't respond.

"You were carried to the ship without notice. The patrol was distracted. This was an exceedingly well planned operation. We were well at sea before your guards could possibly have woken up. There will be no pursuit."

I was so screwed.

"I do not say all this to frighten you. Indeed, I am trying to assure you of two things. First, we are not barbarians. We did not kill. We did not need to, and we didn't. However, you will not escape. Do you understand?"

Reluctantly, I nodded.

"Good. If I remove your gag, will you speak politely, by and large?"

I didn't respond.

"I can come back tomorrow. Or I can leave you like this for the entire voyage. It is your choice. Will you speak politely, by and large?"

Reluctantly, I nodded.

I felt her hands at the sides of my cheeks, then the gag relaxed, and she pulled it from my mouth.

"I am a princess of Norinia! You can't do this!"

"I know who you are, Princess Meorie. You are the Butcher of Kilara."

"We were in legitimate pursuit of the raiders who had just sacked Leeman, and your village was sheltering them."

"An argument you may share at your trial, Princess."

I didn't say anything. I wouldn't get a fair trial in Tendaria. We sat silently for a moment before I said, "This ship. It is the Ysura Martani?"

"Yes. The name means White Rider."

"And you are?"

"You already know. I am Dareena, captain of this vessel."

"What happened to the vaunted Tendarian honor? You came under a white flag to negotiate peace. Instead, you kidnaped a princess, ensuring war forever. You don't think my sister will realize what happened to me? You have no honor." I would have spat at her if I'd had any spit left to share.

"Meorie, your sister gave you to us. For peace."

"You lie!"

"I know you will feel betrayed. We can discuss this later. Should we perhaps see to the immediate needs?"

I was silent.

"I can leave you trussed like this. I will need to renew the magic on your bonds, probably every few days. This is no trouble for me. We can give you water and food if you remain verbally polite. Or we can leave you in here alone. If you are verbally abusive, I will replace the gag. Do you doubt my ability to do these things?"

"No."

"Would you like a demonstration of how easy it is to replace the gag, now that it knows you?"

"No."

"It would be no trouble at all," she said. "I don't mind providing a demonstration."

"You have won," I said. "I see that Tendarian honor includes taunting the condemned."

She was silent for a moment. "You are right. You have my apologies. I was ungracious."

Neither of us said anything for a minute or two. "Why am I still alive?"

"So that you may stand trial for your crimes."

"As if I will receive a fair trial."

"I vow you will receive a fair trial," she replied.

"Excuse me if I don't place much faith in your personal honor."

She hissed, and for a moment I thought she would replace the gag. I was a dead woman, anyway. What did I care anymore?

Then she stilled. "I can understand how it would appear that way to you," she said gently. "But you did volunteer."

"Excuse me? In what delusional state are you in to believe that?"

"Three nights ago during the peace talks. You stated quite clearly you would gladly give your life if it would ensure peace between our lands. I heard you. Your sister heard you. And we both believed you. Did you misspeak?"

"No, but how does kidnapping me ensure peace?"

"Your sister is holding a peace treaty, signed by both Queen Fridara of Tendaria and Queen Linara of Norinia. I have a copy. The treaty is conditional upon, amongst compromises on both sides, you standing trial in Rendarin for your role in the deaths at Kilara. You have helped to buy peace."

"I don't believe you."

"I am willing to show it to you later. Will you recognize your sister's signature?"

I didn't respond.

"Why not just kill me?"

"Because that wouldn't be justice. It might be revenge, but not justice. I personally promised your sister you would receive a fair trial. I keep my promises."

"If what you say is true, she is no longer my sister. I disown her." Again, I would have liked to have spit.

"I understand that you may feel that way," she said. "But she must be queen first and a sister second."

"She could have talked to me."

"Being allowed to take you this way was required. It will appease certain factions in Tendaria. If it's any consolation, she cried."

"It's not. I do not forgive either of you."

"I do not blame you. Shall we discuss your most immediate situation?"

I was silent.

"As discussed, I can leave you like this. It will be an unpleasant trip. You will arrive in the capital in a very undignified fashion."

"As if I care."

"You are a princess," she said. "I rather suspect you care quite a bit." She paused. "There are factions in Tendaria who would be very pleased to see you carried to your trial bound and gagged. But it is not fitting of a princess, and I would not wish it done that way."

"It's not like you can trust me if you untie me."

"I have something to show you. I can remove the blindfold. You will be tempted to lose your polite nature when you see it. I will forgive a brief outburst, but if you are exceptionally rude, I will replace all your bonds and leave you like this until tomorrow."

"You are a bitch," I told her.

She didn't respond immediately, then laughed. "You did agree to be polite, more or less. I guess that was the less part." She paused. "Your choice, Princess. I would rather give you dignity, but either way, you are going to Tendaria. You are standing trial. It is completely up to you."

"I will strive to remain polite for the next several minutes," I said. "On my honor."

"Excellent," she said. She reached for my head, and the blindfold fell away. I blinked in the light.

I was lying on my back, my arms and legs still trussed, and sitting on the bed, looking down at me, was an attractive woman with long, blonde hair, which she was wearing in a single braid. She was Captain Dareena, temporary ambassador from Tendaria, and daughter to Queen Fridara. I wasn't sure why she didn't call herself princess.

I looked around and saw that I was in a small ship's cabin.

"You have displaced the quartermaster," she said. "He didn't seem to mind."

"What did you want to show me?"

She opened a pouch at her waist and withdrew a heavy metal circlet. I realized it was a slave collar.

I stared at it.

"It is magic, of course," she said. "If you agree to wear it, you will be subject to my orders. You won't be able to disobey."

I looked away. "No. You could make me do anything."

"You understand these only work when the wearer agrees to them."

"I don't agree."

"And they fall off if the conditions expire."

She let me think about that.

"Do you believe me?" she asked.

"I don't know."

"The conditions are this. You will wear the collar until you are taken into custody at the palace in Rendarin. I will transport you by the most direct, practical route. I will not issue any orders to you that would cause you to act against Norinia. I will not issue orders to dishonor you."

I wasn't interested in her slave color. She could let me rot in the cabin.

"Princess Meorie, I would use the collar only to ensure your cooperation in delivering you to trial. I would prefer to treat you as a princess. I would not mistreat you. So you have a choice. You can accept the collar. You will then be allowed to relieve yourself and would have reasonable run of the ship. You would dine with me. Or I can leave you like you are now if you agree to remain verbally polite. Or your third choice is to become abusive, and I will replace the blindfold and gag. Those are your choices."

"How do I know you aren't lying about the slave collar?"

She took the collar, opened it, and placed it around her neck. "I agree to be bound to Princess Meorie for the next five minutes or until she orders me to do something contrary to delivering her safely to Rendarin." There was a glow.

She looked at me. "Test it."

"Remove your tunic."

She immediately removed her tunic, setting it on the bed. I noticed casually she had a fine figure with pert breasts.

"Kiss my feet."

She bent down and kissed my boots.

"Release me."

The collar fell off. She caught it as it fell.

She put her tunic back on then looked at me. "Decide."

I looked away. She didn't rush me.

"I need to relieve myself," I told her.

"You may soil your clothes or wear the collar. Decide."

I had no intention of standing trial. If I could get up on deck, I could jump overboard. Drowning would be better than whatever circus they would have planned for me.

"Fine. I'll wear it."

She nodded then placed the collar around my neck. She told me what to say, and I said it. I felt the collar tighten around my neck and the magic invaded my mind. Dareena suddenly appeared far more attractive than she had, and I wanted nothing but to please her.

"Princess Meorie, you will make no attempt to escape my custody. You will make no attempt to hurt yourself or anyone else on this ship. You will obey the reasonable orders of the ship's officers. If you are given an unreasonable order, you will immediately present yourself to me. You will cooperate fully with my attempts to deliver you to the palace in Tendaria. You will remain polite to me as well as the officers and crew of this ship. Do you understand these orders?"

"Yes."

She smiled. "Welcome aboard, Princess." She reached down and released the bonds on my legs and arms then helped me to sit up. "You will share my cabin. Let us see to your most immediate needs."

A Ship Tour

"Follow," Dareena ordered. Meekly, I followed behind her, unable to do anything else. She showed me a chamber for relieving myself. I made use of it, and Dareena waited while I cleaned up for a moment afterwards.

I still stank from the sweat and fear. I was sure she would notice.

She took me to her cabin. We passed several crewmen on the way, who pulled themselves from Dareena's path. We stepped into what I knew was the largest cabin on the ship, the captain's cabin. I looked around, but the collar exerted a large amount of submission, and asking questions was outside my abilities.

She pointed to a chair. "Sit there, Princess."

Obediently I sat. She stepped outside the cabin for a moment. I heard her give orders. Then she returned, closing the door. "I have ordered food. It will be here shortly." She sat down in another chair facing me.

"Princess, you have permission to act as a princess, not a slave."

The collar dramatically relaxed its hold over me. "You are the ship's captain?"

"Yes. I am a ship's captain in our navy."

"That seems like a dangerous duty for a princess."

She smiled. "Life is uncertain. I suspect this will be my last voyage."

There was a knock at the door. "Enter," she said. Two young boys entered carrying a basket, a jug, plates, mugs, and tableware. They set them down on the table and departed after staring at me for a while.

She could have ordered me to serve her. Instead she opened the basket and passed out the food for both of us. There was bread and fresh fruit. "You missed lunch," she said. "Dinner is in two hours." Then she poured from the jug. It was water.

I took the water and immediately began drinking.

"Careful," she said. I immediately slowed down as the collar enforced the command. "My apologies, Princess," she said. "I meant that as a caution, not an order. I will strive to be more careful."

We ate quietly. I decided Dareena was eating with me to be polite, as she ate sparingly. When we were done, she knocked at the door, and the two boys entered, clearing everything away, leaving the mugs and jug of water.

"I will arrange for you to clean yourself after dinner," Dareena told me. "I have some of your clothes, including court clothes for your trial."

I stared at her. "How did you get those?"

"Your sister gave them to me."

I stared at her. "Show me."

She got up and walked to a chest in the corner of the cabin. She opened it and pulled forth a tunic and breeches I recognized as mine. Then she pulled out a court dress that was also mine. "The entire chest is yours," she said. "You will not abuse the contents."

The collar's magic enforced the order.

I stared at the dress. It was my dress, last seen in my closet in the palace.

"My sister really gave me to you?"

"Yes. I know how devastated that must make you feel."

My own sister had given me to our worst enemies. She had stabbed me in the back. I had always supported her and been loyal to her, and this was how she repaid me.

I began to cry, which immediately turned into sobbing.

Dareena didn't attempt to comfort me. She folded the clothes and replaced them in the chest, then sat down and waited for me to cry myself out. I wouldn't have wanted her comfort anyway.

I eventually pulled myself back together. Dareena handed me a cloth, and I blew my nose and attempted to clean myself up, brushing my sweaty hair back from my face. Then I sat up proudly and looked into her eyes. "Queen Linara has no honor, and I will curse her when you execute me. I will also curse you, coming under a white flag to kidnap me in such a dishonorable fashion." Then I turned away.

Dareena got up and headed for the door of the cabin. She turned around. "Princess Meorie, you will remain in this cabin until I return. You will do nothing that would annoy me if I were to discover it." And then she left.

I began crying again.

* * *

I eventually pulled myself together. I cursed Linara. I refused to consider her sister any longer. I tried to curse Dareena, but the collar wouldn't allow it.

I decided the orders didn't prevent me from searching the cabin. I started with the chest. It was filled with my clothing, a hair brush, and some cosmetics. There was no jewelry, no books, no letters, no apology from my back-stabbing former sister.

I hoped her soul rotted for what she had done to me. She could have talked to me. But did she really believe Tendaria would honor whatever treaty she had signed? This had all been a ploy to capture me, and that was it.

Their general sacked our village, killing two dozen villagers in the process, then fled back across the border. We missed catching them by only an hour and set in pursuit. He had taken refuge in a Tendarian village. We set fire to the village to drive him out. The general and many of his men escaped. In the battle, a number of villagers had been killed. General Jendo lost some men. I lost some. But the real losses had come from the two villages.

That had been four years ago. The two countries had been at war since, a very expensive war in lives lost.

We had never learned why Tendaria had attacked in the first place.

I searched the rest of the cabin. There was a bed, large enough for two if they knew each other well. I assumed I would have the joy of sleeping on the floor. The captain had a desk. It was closed, and when I reached to open it, the collar prevented me. I guess somehow it knew Dareena would be annoyed if I were to snoop through her desk.

Likewise I wasn't able to look through her chest. I presumed it contained the same sorts of things my chest would contain.

I found a knife. The collar decided picking it up was okay, but it wouldn't let me hide the knife in my boot. I tried testing the edge, but the chance of cutting myself caused the collar's magic to stop me.

I tried slitting my own throat. The collar didn't allow that, either.

I physically tried pulling the collar off and immediately found myself on the cabin floor, crying out from pain. I tried twice more anyway. I wasn't able to remove the collar, but it punished me badly for trying.

I walked to the door of the cabin and opened the door, but when I tried to step across the threshold, the collar didn't allow it. When I tried forcing it, it started giving me pain, growing the longer I resisted.

I backed away from the door and closed it, and the pain immediately receded.

I was so screwed.

Captain Dareena left me in her cabin for two hours. During that time I attempted six different ways of killing myself. I found matches, but the collar didn't allow me to light them. I tried several acts of clear disobedience, a petty attempt to repay Dareena for her cowardly, dishonorable acts. The collar didn't allow them.

Eventually I sat back in the chair and fumed.

Dareena returned eventually. She stepped into the cabin and looked at me. "Put the knife back where you got it."

I stood up and replaced it.

"How many ways did you try to kill yourself?"

"Six or seven."

"How many times did you try to leave the cabin?"

"One long attempt."

"Did you enjoy your attempts to remove the collar?"

"How did you know?"

"Because I would have done the same things," she said. "Did you find the matches?"

"Yes."

"Couldn't light them?"

"No."

"Were you able to open my chest or desk?"

"No."

"I know how frustrating this is."

"I don't want sympathy from you. How is it that a people who talks about honor has slave collars?"

"I insisted we obtain one so that we could treat you with some dignity. I felt the collar was a better choice than leaving you trussed in the cabin. But if you would rather be trussed, we can do that instead." She paused. "I wore it for three days prior to this voyage so that I would be familiar with what it was like. Mother gave me the sort of orders I've given you, and I tried to think of every way you would try to violate them. I wasn't able to do a single one."

"Gloating again?"

"Offering empathy."

"Why? You must be ecstatic at the situation."

"I am happy our countries will have peace. Too many people have died. I am proud I will have served an important role bringing that peace about. I am happy you will see justice."

"A mock trial followed by a swift and undoubtedly painful and humiliating execution, you mean. I am loved and respected in Norinia. When the people find out what happened, they will not accept your peace."

"I believe they will. So does your sister."

"I have no sister."

"My mother also believes in this peace. All of us believe this will bring peace."

"I don't believe Norinians would stab me in the back like this, regardless of the actions of my betraying queen. And I don't believe Tendaria will honor any fair treaty. But hey, you'll be a hero bringing me in for your revenge. Nevermind the fact that Tendaria attacked Norinia. I was fully justified to pursue your soldiers."

"Yes, you were."

I looked at her, staring.

"You weren't justified killing civilians."

I looked away. Technically, I hadn't killed them. But my soldiers had, which made me responsible. "They shouldn't have sheltered him. He shouldn't have run to a village like that. I was supposed to let him get away with it? Oh, he ran to a village, I guess we'll just retreat."

"You could have set up camp outside the village and waited him out."

"You mean waited for more of your military to arrive?"

"Did your scouts find any other military units in the area?"

"I didn't exactly have time to send scouts.  We pursued your soldiers directly to the village"

"Did you even consider other options than attacking the village? Or were you so crazed with anger over the actions at Leeman that you went storming into Kilara without a thought what would happen to the innocent civilians, people who had nothing to do with what happened at Leeman?"

I looked away. "I believe I've said too much. I don't believe my position is improved by giving you more ammunition to use during my upcoming trial and execution. It's not like I'm going to convince you of anything. You have already judged me."

She was silent for a moment before saying, "If you don't talk to me, it will be difficult for me to defend you."

"Defend me from what?"

"Defend you at the trial. I will be your defense attorney."

I turned back to face her. "Oh, that's priceless, just priceless. Not only do you get to be a hero for cowardly kidnapping me under a false white flag, but then you get to pretend to defend me during my mock trial. Tell me, will I also die by your hand? How will you do it? Drawn and quartered, perhaps? Perhaps dragged through the streets for everyone to watch? Those might be too quick. Perhaps you will choose to have me impaled. I understand that can take a very long time. I am sure I will scream quite nicely for you before it is over."

Her lips tightened for a moment before she said quietly, "Your willingness to act, or in this case speak, before ascertaining yourself of all the facts is what plunged our countries into war. It is why you are here now. It is why you will stand trial for what you have done. Perhaps if you took the time available to learn all the facts, you would be better prepared to act or speak in a more appropriate fashion."

She turned her back on me. I stared at it.

"All right, Princess Dareena, tell me which facts I have wrong."

"Point one," she said, turning back to me. "It was not a false white flag. I arrived under a proper white flag. I presented a peace treaty proposal to the queen of Norinia. I negotiated a few fine details. The queen then agreed to the treaty and signed it in full witness of her ministers."

"Does the treaty mention me?"

"Yes."

"Did the ministers know this?"

"Yes."

"Did they know the peace required you to kidnap me?"

"They knew the peace required you to leave with me. I do not know if they understood how you would come aboard the ship. The queen did. She pulled the city patrol from the area to avoid loss of life."

"Were all the ministers present?"

"Not all. Most."

"My uncle?"

"Yes."

"When?"

"The afternoon the day before yesterday."

"So a full day before you kidnapped me."

"Yes."

My sister and uncle had done this to me. Deep despair settled into me. I had seen both of them since they had agreed to betray me. They had both looked me in the eye and not said a word.

"I am sorry," she said. "You must feel very betrayed."

"That must be extra joy for you. You must be positively giddy you convinced my own family to betray me to you."

"It was necessary for the peace."

My sister and my uncle, the two people in the world who should have loved me the most, had done this. They had stared me in the eye and stabbed me in the back.

"You are right," I said finally. "If what you have said is true, and I have no way of knowing whether it is, then you were not the coward. Dearest sister Linara and Uncle Pandor were the cowards."

The despair grew. I drew my legs to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. I began keening. I may have been able to accept my fate, but knowing my own family had done this to me was too much.

Dareena allowed me my misery.

There was a knock on the door. Two cabin boys entered. They brought warm food and another jug. They served the food, primarily ignoring me as I rocked back in the chair, lost in my despair and continuing to keen with my loss.

It took me some time to bring myself back under control. I grew quieter and quieter. Eventually I sat in the chair, deadly staring straight ahead. Through all of it, Dareena said not a word. When I finally appeared calm, she offered food.

I stared at her for a moment but didn't respond.

"To continue our conversation from earlier," she said. "You will receive as fair a trial as is possible."

"Why bother? We both know what the end verdict will be."

"Actually," she said. "We don't. You will be charged with a lengthy list of crimes. You will undoubtedly be convicted of some of those crimes, but it is unclear which."

"It is nice to know my defense attorney has already prejudged me."

She sighed. "Tell me, do you deny that four years ago, you were in command of a troop of Norinian soldiers who crossed the border into Tendaria and killed a number of unarmed Tendarian villagers?"

"We were in pursuit of Tendarian soldiers who had slaughtered the villagers of Leeman."

"So there were extenuating circumstances. Do you deny the basic account? Were you in charge of a troop of soldiers that crossed the border?"

"Yes."

"Did those soldiers kill Tendarians?"

"Yes."

"Were some of those Tendarians unarmed?"

"Yes. But I didn't order their deaths."

"A point we will make at your trial. As the commander of the troop, were you responsible for the actions of your soldiers?"

I didn't answer that. Yes, I was, but I wasn't going to admit it to her.

"Princess Meorie, do you honestly believe there can be dead innocents with no one to blame?"

"Why am I standing trial, but the man who led your soldiers into Norinia and killed the villagers of Leeman is not?"

"Because he is dead. You are not."

"I see. I presume in died valiantly in some battle and is counted a hero by your people."

"He confessed to his role in starting the war and took his own life."

"A choice not being offered to me."

"No."

I stared at her.

"You will receive a fair trial. The charges will be lengthy. Due to the circumstances, I will move to have some of the charges dismissed. I believe you will be acquitted of others. I believe you will be found guilty of some."

"And executed."

"Perhaps. Perhaps not."

"Well, perhaps we can simplify things. Write up a confession. I'll sign it. And you can hang me before full dark."

"No. You will stand trial. It will be as fair a trial as is possible."

She thought about it. "That is the second point of which you were mistaken in your outburst earlier. Finally, if you are sentenced to die, and that is not a certainty, it will be done by the most humane means possible. You will not be tortured to death, of that I can promise you. Nor will you be mistreated in any way. You are my prisoner, but I am treating you as kindly as possible in spite of your crimes."

She pushed my plate closer towards me. "Be quiet and eat your dinner."

She made it an order, and the collar forced me to obey. I glared at her and ate sullenly, choking the food down.

When I had finished she said, "I have not rescinded any orders regarding your behavior. You will remain unable to attempt to escape. You will remain unable to attempt to take your life. You will remain unable to cause harm to anyone aboard ship. You will remain unable to do anything that may annoy me." She paused. "I could order you to suppress your displays of grief. I have not done so. I imagine you feel deeply betrayed, and I don't blame you. I imagine you hate me. I don't blame you."

She paused.

"I believe in this peace. I am doing the best I can for both our countries. I hope you can come to understand that and understand why you must stand trial."

She paused again. "I am going to enjoy the evening air on deck. You may have access to this cabin, the main deck, and the passageways in between. You will remain out of the way of the crew as best you can." Then she offered a kind look I didn't care to accept. "This may be your last sea voyage. This may be your last month of life. You can spend it in this cabin sulking or you can try to enjoy the voyage. We will have fair weather for at least a few days. It is your choice."

She got up. "You may sleep on the floor or you may share my bed. Other than delivering food, the cabin boys will remain out of this room, so you will serve as my cabin girl. Do you know your duties?"

"Yes. So I am to be your servant."

"Yes, but only because I am offering you some privacy, and because I do not believe the cabin boys should be required to serve you more than necessary."

I thought about it. "That is fair. Thank you."

"You will want to clean yourself up and change clothes. If you come on deck for a stroll, I will then show you what you need to attend to your needs."

"That wasn't an order."

"No, it wasn't. It was an offer that I hope you will accept."

I thought about it. Getting out of the cabin would be appreciated. It stood up and followed her from the room.

We walked down a short passageway. "As you will recall, this door is to the facilities for relieving yourself. Do you need to use them?"

"Not right now."

"Can you read Tendarian?"

"Some. A few words. Your Norinian is very good. If not for your accent, I could forget you were Tendarian."

She inclined her head. "Thank you." She pointed to the sign on the door and read it to me. "A direct translation is 'Water Closet'."

The pointed to the door across the hall from the water closet. "This room has access to fresh water and cleaning supplies. You will need to pump the water. Cold water only." She paused. "I will be annoyed if you abuse the fresh water supply or make a mess."

The collar quivered at me. I wouldn't be allowed to do anything to annoy her.

Then she continued along the passageway to a door. Once she opened it and stepped through, we were on the main deck of the ship. The Ysura Martani was a brig. It had two heavy masts with square-rigged sails. From where we stood, I could see most of the ship. The poop deck was the roof over the cabin we had just entered. Dareena turned to me. "You may have access to the main deck but will remain off the poop deck unless specifically invited by myself or another ship's officer."

I looked around. The ship looked quite well run. Everything was shipshape. Nothing was loose that shouldn't be loose, and the sails above us were well trimmed. I received glances from the crew and a few glares, but nothing murderous.

I realized I might be able to convince the crew to murder me. It might not even be difficult.

Dareena caught me looking at the crew members and said, "If you cause trouble with the crew, it will annoy me."

I glared at her. "How much free will are you going to leave me?"

"When it comes to delivering you to your trial, none. Other than that, as much as I can."

Then she turned and led the way to the windward railing. I followed. We stood side by side, staring out over the sea. The breeze smelled good.

I thought about trying to jump over the railing.  She couldn't have physically stopped me. The sea wasn't rough, but it was rough enough that finding me would be difficult. I doubted anyone would go into the water after me, and of course I wouldn't cooperate with my own rescue. I might be able to drown before they could fish me back out. A ship this size wouldn't be able to turn around for me that quickly, after all.

I tried to jump over the railing. I put my hands on the railing and willed myself over it. It wasn't suicide, it was just going for a refreshing swim. I needed a bath, anyway, right?

Dareena watched me.

"There is no escape that way," she said. "When I wore the collar, it was keyed to open after three days or if I were able to leave my quarters or if I were able to inflict any amount of self harm. Then mother began offering me incentive to escape the collar. I became very motivated. I wore it the entire three days."

"Are you pleased to have me completely humiliated?"

"Would you prefer having remained trussed for the voyage?"

"I would prefer to be home in bed."

"Would you prefer continued war between our countries, or peace for our peoples?"

"You have taken everything from me, including the love of my family. I will die knowing I could not have been more deeply betrayed."

"What about your victims, who were guilty of nothing but being in the way of your soldiers. What did you offer them?"

"I did not kill them. I did not order their deaths. I am not the one who tried to hide behind them. I stopped the killing as quickly as I could."

"And all that will come out at your trial."

"It won't matter! No matter what happens at the trial, no matter what the verdict may be, you have taken everything from me. Everything. I no longer have a home. I no longer have a family. I no longer have anyone who loves me. You could release me right now and I have nowhere to go. You took everything from me. Without, I might point out, fair trial or any warning. Such honor."

I turned my back on her.

We stood at the railing for some time, the motion of the ship lulling me with its hypnotic nature. Eventually I heard her say, "You will sleep in the cabin, not on deck. It is not your fault, but you are somewhat rank. You will clean yourself, change clothes, and wash what you are currently wearing. You will do so immediately upon entering the cabin, and you will do so without waking me. That may be easiest if you do it before I am asleep." She paused. "The collar will punish you if you disobey. You won't like it. I didn't. You have some time."

And then she walked away. I turned and watched her ascend to the poop deck. I watched as she talked to the officer on the deck. They saw me watching them, and I turned away.

I hoped my sister realized what she had done to me. I hoped she felt guilt for the rest of her days. I felt the same for each of the betraying ministers, my uncle not the least of them.

I watched the sea for a while then went back to the poop cabin. I stepped into the room opposite the water closet. I found a small shower and a tub for washing clothes. There was soap and a supply of towels.

I went to the captain's cabin and retrieved a change of clothes from my chest then went back to the wash room. I stripped out of my clothes and threw them into the tub, adding a modest amount of water and soap. Then I stepped into the shower and pulled the chain. Cold water cascaded over me, and I yelped with the chill. I wet myself as quickly as I could, then stopped the flow of water. I scrubbed with the soap and a wash cloth, then washed my hair. Rinsing off was also a cold operation, and I was thoroughly chilled by the time I was clean.

I dried off and got dressed in fresh clothing, pulling my boots back on. After that, it didn't take long to wash my old clothes. Rinsing the soap from them took time, and the collar gave me a warning about the amount of water I used.

I had never washed my own clothes aboard ship before. I wasn't sure if there were a better way.

There was a clothes line in the captain's cabin. I hung my clothes to dry as well as the towels I had used. I had no idea how long they would take to dry in the moist sea air.

I took another walk around the ship, testing my limits. The collar prevented me from doing anything sufficiently dangerous I could hurt myself. I eyed the rigging. I wasn't a sailor. I imagined if I climbed the rigging during a blow, I'd fall. I could easily take risks to ensure it. I set one hand on the rigging and the collar warned me.

I'd been given run of the main deck and the poop cabin, but not the rest of the ship. Apparently the collar decided the rigging wasn't part of my allowed area.

I looked up at the poop deck and saw Dareena watching me. I imagined she was quite smug, having trapped me so thoroughly. I tried to wish her dead, but the collar tightened it's mental grip. The worse I thought of Dareena, the more beautiful it made her appear to my eyes.

I turned away and thought about other things.

I returned to the captain's cabin, removed my boots and outer clothing, climbed into bed, and curled into a ball, crying quietly.

At some point I fell asleep.

Testing Limits

Sometime later I awake to a voice gently saying, "Move over, Meorie."

I immediately moved to the far side of the small bed, leaving room for Dareena to join me. I faced away from her. This left me against the rear wall of the cabin, immediately below the aft-facing windows. I knew if I sat up, I could look outside and see our wake behind us, my former home some miles away over the horizon.

"If I am such a beast as to deserve this," I asked her. "How can you stand to share a bed with me?"

"I have not said you deserve it," she replied. "Only that it is required for peace. If things had been different, we might have been dear friends. If things had been different, it could have been me crossing the border the way you did."

We were quiet for several minutes. "I have not slept in a day and a half," she said. "You will do your best to allow me to sleep until morning. I am sorry, but the collar will punish you if you wake me unduly."

I lied there quietly, thinking murderous thoughts towards my sister and my uncle. I tried to include Dareena in the mix, but every time I did, the collar gave me images of how beautiful she had been under the starlight. I realized if it continued, I would undoubtedly fall in love with her over time. I wondered if the effects were permanent, once the collar was removed.

I may have dozed. I don't know. The motion of the ship was hypnotic. Eventually I slept for a time.

* * *

It was still dark when I woke again. I realized where I was and all the memories began flooding into me. Despair struck again, and I couldn't prevent myself from crying.

I woke Dareena, and the collar immediately began punishing me. The extra punishment simply deepened my own despair and feeling of helplessness, and I began crying in earnest, more fully waking Dareena, resulting in greater punishment from the collar. When I realized I couldn't stop crying and that the collar was going to continue to punish me, I began to panic as well. This left me hyperventilating while sobbing and shaking the bed, which assuredly woke Dareena further, which the collar punished by increasing the pain.

I began gasping and twitching from the pain. "Make it stop. Please make it stop!" I begged her.

The collar decided talking to her was an even greater crime, and the pain became unbearable. I screamed from one of its punishments.

Which of course the collar punished.

I tried to flee, thinking if I fled, I wouldn't be keeping her awake, and the collar would stop. Fleeing meant climbing over her.

"What are you doing?" she asked angrily.

I screamed from the pain the collar delivered to me.

In between punishments I managed to flop past her, landing in a ball on the cabin floor. I moaned and jerked as the collar punished me.

"What is wrong with you?" she asked.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Make it stop! Please!"

"The collar?"

The collar was continuing to punish me. Dareena was fully awake, and it was my fault, and it seemed determined to punish me as long as I did anything to keep her awake.

I screamed again.

"Woke you. I'm sorry! Please make it stop!"

"Oh god," she said. "I'm sorry. I don't know how."

The punishment was incessant now, tendrils of pain wrapping around my entire body and squeezing. I screamed over and over, the pain causing me to spasm and rock around on the floor.

In between spasms, I started crawling towards the door of the cabin.

I was out of my mind from the pain. The only thoughts I had were how sorry I was for waking her, and how my only escape from punishment was to get far enough away I wasn't the cause of her continued lost sleep.

I made it to the door, still screaming, but I couldn't reach the handle.

Dareena figured out what I was trying to do. She climbed out of bed, wearing nothing but her under things, and opened the door. Then she helped drag me all the way out to the ship's deck.

She was wide awake, it was all my fault, and the collar continued to punish me.

Dareena disappeared, I didn't see where, but she returned in a moment with a ship's officer and two crewmen.

"Drag her as far from my cabin as you can," she ordered. "Be gentle with her, this isn't her fault, and I don't know how to stop it. If it doesn't settle down soon, come get me."

"No!"

"If it doesn't stop, I will need to rebind her and remove the collar."

I screamed again from the pain, twisting and thrashing, my head slamming against the deck.

I felt hands grasp my limbs. They were firm but not abusive, and I was dragged to the front of the ship, as far from the poop cabin as possible. I continued to thrash and scream the entire time.

I continued to scream from the pain, screams I knew were waking the entire ship. Screams I knew would keep Dareena awake. The collar continued to punish me.

"Muffle me!" I yelled to the men. "Anything! Knock me out! Make it stop!"

They tried to quiet me, but I threw them off in my struggles, continuing to scream.

Finally the officer stepped up. "Hold her," he told the men. They clasped my arms firmly. The officer knelt down and struck me a solid blow.

I remembered nothing else.

* * *

When I woke, it was full daylight. I was back in the captain's cabin, lying in the bed. My entire body was in agony and I had a killer headache.

Dareena was sitting in a chair watching me.

I moaned.

"I'm so sorry," she said.

I rolled away from her and curled into a ball, moaning and rocking slightly.

"I'm sorry," she said again.

"It's difficult to believe you." I told her. "Let the torture begin."

"I didn't intend that."

"So it was just a bonus."

I felt her reach out and caress my head. I would have shrugged her off, but it felt good. That was probably the collar's doing as well.

"I didn't know how to make it stop."

"Maybe you should have gotten better directions with it."

"Yes, I should have."

"All you had to do was forgive me. Or countermand the order to let you sleep. Possibly both."

"How do you know that?"

"Norinia has had problems with prostitution."

"Every country has had problems with prostitution."

"Let me rephrase that then. Norinia has had problems with forced prostitution. These are the collars the prostitutes are forced to wear."

I rolled over and looked at her. "They make the wearer fall in love with the owner."

"It's just a slave collar," she said, denying it.

"Right. That's why your caresses feel so good."

She snatched her hand away from me.

Tears came to my eyes. "I hurt."

"I know. I'm sorry."

My head was pounding. Her caresses had lessened the effect, but if I accepted them, I would fall in love with her faster, adding to my humiliation.

"Please kill me."

She looked away. "No."

I rolled back into a ball, holding my head in my hands, waves of pain pounding into my head with every heartbeat. I let out another moan.

Dareena began caressing me again, which took away the pain. Her touch felt so good, and the pounding in my head without it was so bad.

"Does this help?" she asked.

"Yes. It will also hasten the process."

She pulled her hand away, and the pounding returned immediately. I moaned and continued to clutch at my head.

"Please leave me," I told her. "Your touch is too tempting."

"I am sorry," she said again, immediately getting up. I heard her flee the cabin.

I lied in the bed for another two hours, moaning. The pounding wasn't getting better. When Dareena checked on me, I again asked her to kill me or let me kill myself.

"I vowed to your sister-"

"I have no sister."

"I vowed to Queen Linara you would receive a fair trial. If I kill you here, or let you kill yourself, I do not believe we will find peace. You will die in vain. You must stand trial."

I moaned.

"Do you want my help?"

"No!"

* * *

I managed to sit up. Doing so didn't help the pounding. I was very unsteady, especially in light of the ship's motion, but I stood and, swerving, made my way to the cabin door. Leaning against one wall of the passageway, I made it to the end of the passage and stepped onto the deck.

The light sent shards of pain into my head. I pulled an arm over my eyes and leaned in the doorway.

Slowly I was able to pull my arm from over my eyes. Following the wall of the poop cabin, I turned right and made my way to the railing.

I leaned over it, resting my chest on the railing and holding my head in my hands.

I felt someone approach. Then there was a hand on the back of my neck, and the pain receded. "How are you doing?" Dareena asked.

"Not well," I said. "Your touch helps." The relief was so overwhelming I was willing to accept it. "You mustn't do it too long. I'll be begging for it soon."

"I am sorry," she said. "I didn't know any of this."

"So I am not the only one who acts without all the facts. But in this case, the victim is the Butcher of Kilara, so any downsides are well deserved."

She pulled her hand away and the pain immediately hit my head again. I staggered under it, then leaned further over the railing and retched. The motion sent more pounding into my head.

When I was done, she handed me a mug of water. I rinsed my mouth and spit, then rinsed and swallowed. She took the mug back before I could drop it.

"Please," I said. "I think I should go lie down again."

"Of course," she said, but she didn't move out of my way.

"I can't walk straight," I said. "You're in the way."

She stepped out of my way immediately and I slowly made my way back into the cabin. I made it to the bed and collapsed, moaning.

I slept eventually.

* * *

Dareena was watching me the next time I woke. My eyes opened and I saw her looking at me.

"How long have you been there?"

"Only a few minutes. How is your head?"

It still hurt, but not as badly. "Maybe a little better."

"I'm worried."

"Afraid I might die before you can kill me?"

"Yes." But she smiled a little while she said it.

"Well, I can hope." I rolled closer to the edge of the bed, then swung my legs out and sat up. I was struck by a horrible case of vertigo. I sat and steadied myself for a minute or so, Deena watching me with a concerned expression.

"You're a good actress," I told her. "It looks like you actually care."

"This was my fault."

"Yes. Tell me, is it legal in Tendaria to torture a prisoner of war?"

"No."

"So when is your trial?"

"It wasn't intentional, Meorie."

I looked at her pointedly. "Ah, but I intentionally killed the civilians in Kilara, is that the difference?"

She shifted uncomfortably. "Only you know that, and I suspect you may not have been honest with yourself about it. How angry were you? How much were you willing to lash out after you saw what you saw? How willing were you to let die anyone who got between you and the target of your anger?"

"You may criticize my actions after you have been presented with a similar situation and done remarkably better."

I stood slowly. Dareena stood up and was immediately at my side to steady me. I shook her off, almost falling over in the process. She stepped away. "I'm trying to help."

"Feeling guilty?"

"Yes."

"Good."

Then I walked unsteadily outside and made my way to the railing. It was late afternoon and warm, but comfortably warm, not hot. The sea breeze felt good.

I stayed at the railing for an hour, trying to imagine what I could possibly say to my sister to make her feel as badly as she should feel for betraying me. I came to the conclusion I was never going to formulate a speech that I felt was remotely adequate to the job. I could never hurt her as badly as she had hurt me.

She was my older sister. It had been her responsibility to look out for me, to protect me, and she did this instead. I hoped she felt guilt and that it rotted at her soul. She deserved it.

My head felt marginally better from being upright, and I slowly became more steady.

Dareena stepped up next to me. "It will be dinner shortly," she said in her accented Norinian. "You should try to eat."

"Will you make it an order?"

"Not tonight, but if you try to go on some foolish fast, I will. There isn't enough time for a fast to kill you, anyway."

"I'll need my strength to face the execution, I'm sure."

She didn't respond to my barb. I had been over using it. I was going to need to find new ones.

I wondered if I could convince the collar to kill me. It didn't punish me for the thought. It was worth thinking about.

A bell rang three times. "Dinner," Dareena said. "Come to the cabin."

She turned on her heel, and docilely, I followed her. Damned collar.

The collar didn't release me from the command until I had arrived in Dareena's cabin. I immediately turned around and left again. She'd ordered me to the cabin, but she hadn't ordered me to stay.

"Get back here."

I swore as my body turned around and I returned to the cabin. Then I immediately turned around and headed out the door again.

"Sit!"

I sat down right where I was in the middle of the passage.

"Not out there! Get in here and sit down."

I climbed slowly to my feet, using the passageway wall for balance, and then walked into the cabin and sat in the chair.

"And stay!"

I looked at her and smiled. "I see your honor has fled you again. I was given to believe you wouldn't use the collar so capriciously. So much for your promises."

She stared at me for a moment then said coldly, "Why are you working so hard to annoy me?"

The collar instantly began to punish me. The pain wrapped around my head and I moaned, then hissed. Squirming to escape the pain at the same time the ship took an unexpected lurch, I slid from the chair.

The collar redoubled its punishment. I wasn't in a proper sit and stay any longer. I screamed, which I imagine annoyed her, and the punishment increased further. I imagined my additional screams annoyed her. I imagined when I kicked out from the pain, my leg striking hers, that really annoyed her, plus it was an attack on her body, and the collar ramped the pain even higher.

At that point I couldn't think any longer, I could only thrash on the floor of the cabin, screaming.

I had no idea what Dareena was doing while watching me accept the collar's torture.

It seems like forever, but then she was kneeling next to me saying over and over, "You are forgiven, you are forgiven." Her hands were on me, and the collar shut down, instead sending waves of pleasure through me from her touch.

I stopped screaming and found myself curling around her legs, hugging her while she stroked my head. She felt so good. So good.

"You have to stop," I managed to say eventually. "Please don't stop."

She pulled herself away from me.

"I'm sorry," she said.

I lied on the cabin floor for a while, panting heavily. I was able to calm myself and opened my eyes to look up at her.

"That torture session was entirely intentional," I told her. "And my main crime was trying to leave the cabin. When did you say your trial was?"

She looked away. "No it wasn't."

"You knew what would happen when you said what you said."

"I didn't think it would be like that."

"Amazing how things can get out of hand."

She didn't say anything.

"Does it excite you to have me your puppet?" I asked.

She didn't answer that, either.

I sat up then slowly climbed back into the chair. "May I leave?"

"No."

I glared at her.

"Will you please try to eat something?"

I looked at the food on the table.

"If I eat something, may I leave?"

She didn't answer me right away. "I'm sorry," she said.

"Yeah, right."

I sat there and didn't say another word. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Dareena sit down and pull her chair up to the table. She slid one of the plates closer to me. It was filled with some sort of stew and there was a small loaf of bread on the table. Dareena used a knife to cut a slice of bread and set it on the edge of my plate. She took a second slice for herself.

My stomach was empty, and as the scent of the food wafted towards me, I began to salivate. My stomach growled. I looked away.

"Eat something," she said.

I reached out, tore a piece from the bread, and stuffed it into my mouth. Then I glared at her as I choked it down.

"Can't help yourself, can you?"

She returned my look. "If you are sufficiently recovered from last night to roam about on deck, you are sufficiently recovered to fulfill your duties as cabin girl. You may attend to them after dinner." She paused. "Meorie, please eat something. I know you're hungry."

I turned away again, ignoring the food.

"Why are you being like this?" she asked me.

"Do you really think I'm going to keep it down the next time the collar goes into action? I wonder how much it would annoy you to see me throw up the dinner, perhaps all over your shiny boots. I wonder what the collar's reaction to that will be."

I paused for a moment, thinking.

"I wonder if it will annoy you if I belch. Or pass wind. Or get up in the middle of the night to relieve myself. Perhaps it will annoy you if I don't eat in a sufficiently ladylike fashion. Of course, it may be annoying you I'm not eating at all. Perhaps it annoys you I am not naturally docile, although I choose to believe you are having fun breaking my spirit."

She stared at me. "I didn't intend the collar to punish you for any of those things."

"Funny how things we don't intend happen anyway. When I belch, and the collar punishes me for it, is that when we schedule your trial for torturing a prisoner of war?"

I thought about it. "And when is your trial for violating a white flag of truce? Or perhaps that's not illegal. I am pretty sure I can argue that kidnapping a princess of Norinia would be considered a violation of truce. But all is fair in love and war, perhaps? Except, of course, pursuing the soldiers who attacked a village with no cause at all."

I looked into her eyes. "The reality is simple. There will not be justice. You will not see a trial for any of these things. Tendaria isn't remotely interested in justice, or it would be applied evenly and honorably. Tendaria is interested in revenge."

I turned to the food and began eating. I had intended to only eat some, but it was well prepared and I was exceedingly hungry. I finished my plate and washed it down with the water in my mug.

I looked over at Dareena. I couldn't stand being in the same room with her. I nearly retched, knowing what the collar was doing to me regarding her. "Your highness," I said. "May your slave attend to her duties?"

Her expression actually carried some pain. "Yes," she said.

I got up and straightened the room, starting with the bed. I had sweated it in earlier. I stared at it, not at all sure how to go about doing laundry. I walked over to my clothing that I had washed last night. They were still damp. I couldn't even imagine how long the bedding might take to dry.

"I was mistaken, your highness," I told her. "I do not properly understand my duties. I don't know what to do about the bedding. It should be changed."

She stared at me. "You don't know how to change a bed?"

"I have never done laundry, especially aboard a ship. I have only been on a few voyages, and it always included the privileges of my position." I nodded to my clothes hanging up. "They are still damp, and I wrung them out as well as I could before I hung them up."

"When the cabin boys come to clear the meal, I will ask one of them to show you what you need to know."

She shook her head.

"Yes, your highness, I admit it. There are things even a cabin boy knows that I don't. Does that really surprise you?"

"I'm sorry," she said. "I was shaking my head at myself. I shouldn't have assumed you would know."

I straightened the rest of the room. Then I realized her sextant was starting to tarnish as was some of the brass in the cabin. "I presume there are supplies for polishing the brass in the wash room?"

"Yes."

"Do I have permission to retrieve them?"

"Yes."

I stepped from the room, walked down the passageway, and stepped into the wash room. It took me a while to find what I needed. When I got back, I showed them to Dareena. "Is this right?" She nodded.

I looked at the sextant dubiously. It was hanging from a hook on the wall. "That looks like delicate equipment, and I have never touched one." I paused. "I don't even want to think what will happen if I damage it. I could scratch a mirror or put something out of adjustment. If you aren't in the room to forgive me, it will be another torture session."

"Your duties do not include the sextant," she said. "Nor do they include my own laundry."

"Thank you."

I walked over to the bed. It was secured to the wall. The brass around the windows needed polishing. I crawled across the bed and, kneeling, I began polishing the brass.

I was still working on the windows when the cabin boys returned to collect the remnants of our meal. "Francis," she said to one of them. She spoke in Tendaria to the boys. I heard my name but didn't understand any of the rest. One of the boys responded, then the two collected the plates and left.

"I don't know enough Tendarian to understand them," I told her, still polishing the brass.

"Francis will show you all the duties. If you have questions, I can translate or answer them."

One of the boys returned several minutes later. Dareena talked to him for a moment. He responded. Then he crawled across the bed and knelt next to me. I looked down at him, kneeling to my left. He was so young. I wondered if he knew who I was, and whether he was afraid of me. I wondered what he understood.

He watched me polishing for a minute. He said a word.

"That means 'good'," Dareena said.

Francis had his own cloth. He nudged me further to the right, and the two of us working together to finish polishing the brass around the window. He was much faster than I was. I watched, and it didn't look like he did anything dramatically differently than I did. When we were done, both sides of the window shone properly. He nodded and said "Good" again.

Then the two of us went over the remaining brass in the room. Francis polished the sextant. He was extremely careful while he did it.

He exchanged words with Dareena then pulled me by the hand back to the wash room. He made sure I knew where to put the polish away. He looked at both rags and decided they didn't need washing. They went back where I had gotten mine. Then he led me to a storage cabinet and opened it. There was fresh bedding. He pulled out fresh sheets and handed them to me. I followed him back to the captain's cabin.

He pointed to the bed. I stripped it, separating out the sheets from the blankets, then used the sheets we had brought with us to make the bed. Francis frowned when I was done and said something to Dareena. She responded.

"He asked why you don't know how to make a bed. I told him to teach you."

Francis pulled apart the bed I had made, then remade it. It looked a lot better when he was done. Then he pulled it apart again and pointed at me, and then to the bed.

"I'm not going to do any better the second time," I told Dareena.

"He'll correct you as you go," she said.

I stepped up to the bed and tried to make it. Francis corrected me in several places. When we were done, it was adequate. I started at it woefully. He shrugged at me.

He was kind of cute, the way eleven year old boys can be.

We collected the used sheets and returned to the wash room. Francis showed me how to wash them. He almost had a cow when he saw how much soap I was going to use. He made me put most of it back. We washed the sheets together. He showed me how to use the wringer, which I had already figured out, then he bundled all the sheets, still wet, in my arms, and led the way out of the cabin. We turned left and exited the poop cabin. He did a U-turn to another door and opened it. It led down below decks. He started down.

"Francis!"

I couldn't go down there. He turned around. I pointed and shook my head. "I can't go down there."

He kept gesturing for me to follow. I kept shaking my head. Finally he came back up the stairs, grabbed the sheets, and took them from me. He disappeared below decks.

I closed the door behind him and returned to Dareena's cabin.

"We just had a communications difficulty. He tried to take me below deck."

Dareena smiled. "To dry the clothes. We keep a stove going."

"Did you set me up?"

"No. I'm sorry, I didn't think of it."

"Funny how often things like that can happen. I wonder what the torture session would have been like if I'd tried to follow him."

"You've made your point."

"And yet you haven't offered to turn this ship around and return me to my home so I can tell my former sister exactly what I think of her."

"Fair or not, you will stand trial."

"I'm sure you'll excuse me if I continue to remind you what a hypocrite you are."

She stood up, glaring at me. "Am I a hypocrite for wanting peace? Or you the hypocrite for offering to die if it meant peace, but then acting like this when you find yourself facing the prospect?"

"I am not afraid to die," I told her. "It is the treachery involved that I am angry about."

She was silent for a while. "That is a fair complaint. I am sorry, but I do not believe anyone will be paying for the treachery acted against you. I know that isn't fair. Life isn't fair."

"Don't offer me platitudes. You are the engineer of the treachery, even if you aren't the worst of the offenders involved."

We glared at each other. Francis walked in and stopped dead, staring at us. Then he said one word. It sounded like a question.

Dareena stepped back from me and talked to him for a moment. Francis nodded to her. He walked over to me and took my hand, pulling me back to the wash room. He showed me a supply of black boot polish, then handed me the polish, a brush, and a cloth. He took a brush and cloth for himself then led the way back to Dareena's cabin.

Dareena was sitting down again. Francis gestured at her boots. Dareena smiled sweetly and held a foot out. I looked back and forth between them. Francis was talking, but I didn't understand a word.

"More petty revenge, your highness?"

"Yes."

"Hypocrite."

I knelt down in front of her and began polishing her boot. When I looked over, Francis was working on her others from the storage locker. I finished the first boot and asked, "Is this adequate, your highness?"

She examined her boot critically, agreed it was, and gave me the other foot. I began polishing. When I was done, I joined Francis and helped him with the remaining boots. When we were done he pointed at my own. They were scuffed and needed polishing. I sat on the floor of the cabin and removed both boots and began polishing one. Francis grabbed the other.

"No," I said. "You don't serve me."

He didn't understand me, although "no" is the same in both languages. He looked over to Dareena. She said something, which I presume was a translation. He said something back and took my boot anyway. I looked at her.

"He is happy to share the work," she said. "I think he has a crush on you."

"Very funny," I told her. I finished my boot about the same time Francis finished the other. I pulled them both back on.

There were a few other minor duties, which Francis showed me, and then we were done. I thanked him for his help, which Dareena translated. He smiled and disappeared.

"It wasn't petty revenge, Meorie," she said.

"Excuse me?"

"Asking you to polish my boots. It wasn't petty revenge."

I didn't respond.

"Do you think it is beneath you to serve as a cabin girl?"

"I am a princess."

"So am I. I served as a cabin girl for a year."

"How old were you?"

"Twelve."

"I am not twelve. I am your prisoner of war and a princess of Norinia. It is not proper to treat me like a servant. But, as you say, life isn't fair, and I am sure watching me kneel in front of you amuses everyone aboard ship."

She watched me for a minute. I stared back at her. "Did it bother you making the bed?"

"No. We're both using it, and while it wasn't entirely my fault, I was the one that caused the bed to require changing."

"Did it bother you to polish the brass?"

"Somewhat, but only because I wasn't responsible for the brass needing polishing. That was more than a day or two of tarnish."

"So when you polish it again, it isn't going to irk you?"

"Not enough to complain. I don't have much else to do on this voyage beyond getting under your skin and attempting to escape. A change of pace doesn't bother me."

Her lips quivered at that, then she returned to a stern expression. "Did it irk you to polish the boots from the storage locker?"

"Somewhat. I reject the notion I am your servant in spite of the collar you have made me wear."

"I didn't make you wear it. You had a choice."

I stared her down. She looked away first then looked back. "Polishing the boots I was wearing bothered you a lot."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I knew you were sitting in that chair feeling smug while a princess of Norinia knelt at your feet."

I turned away and looked out the stern windows. The sun was setting. "May I please go watch the sunset?"

"We'll go together," she said. She led the way to deck. We turned to the west. Somewhere over the horizon, the sun was setting over Norinia. We stood silently at the rail watching the sun disappear below the sea.

"The order regarding annoying me is rescinded," Dareena said. "You will not voluntarily engage in actions likely to annoy me."

She had added the word "voluntarily" to the order. I thought about it. It was a marginal improvement. Involuntarily annoying her by, for instance, screaming because the collar was punishing me, wouldn't trigger the order and subsequent punishments. It also eliminated one route for convincing the collar to kill me. I wasn't sure if it was an improvement or not.

"Thank you," I told her anyway. "I am choosing to believe you are not attempting to silence me." I paused. "Even though my words are annoying."

"You are correct."

"You could order me to stop."

"I could, but I am not going to. I can't understand you if you can not talk freely."

"Why do you care if you understand me?"

"How else can I convince you that you were wrong?"

I didn't respond to that, but came up with a new plan. I wasn't going to spar verbally with her anymore. I would keep my lips buttoned.

The sun set and the stars came out. She left me standing at the rail. As soon as she was gone I tried to jump over the edge again, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

I wondered whether the collar would allow me to take risks. I couldn't climb the rigging. I had already tried that. I started testing the limits.

I turned around and leaned against the railing. Then I began leaning backwards. I was able to. I wasn't actively trying to escape, I was just stretching my back.

I tried to sit on the railing, but as soon as my feet left the deck, the collar kicked in, and I found myself doubled up in pain, sliding back down to the deck. I waited for the pain to dissipate, then stood back up.

So I had to keep my feet on the deck. Interesting. The seas were easy to handle, but if I were on deck during even a small blow, I thought perhaps I could get myself swept overboard.

The thought made me smile.

Then I moved forward, looking for more trouble.

I didn't find any more trouble, but I realized that if I were far enough forward, I couldn't see the poop deck. That meant that anyone on the poop deck couldn't see me. I envisioned a storm starting, and Dareena ordering me to the cabin but forgetting to tell me to stay there. I could go to the cabin and immediately turn around, and if I were careful, I could move forward and she was unlikely to see me. If the storm were severe enough, I could eventually find myself swept overboard.

I looked for any lines that were loose, anything I could accidentally have an accident with, but I didn't find anything. I tried untying a line, but that felt like interfering with the operation of the ship, and I couldn't bring myself to untie it.

I tried climbing aboard the railing. I couldn't. I tried crawling out onto the bowsprit. I couldn't do that, either.

Then I thought about the knife in Dareena's cabin. I wondered if I could have an accident with it. I tried to think about where I could carry the knife where if I fell, I was likely to get badly hurt. I wondered if I could wear it inside my tunic and breeches, with the tip against my stomach. If the collar chose to punish me, I wondered if I'd gut myself against it.

If I did it at night, when Dareena was sleeping, maybe she wouldn't notice until I bled out.

I decided that one was worth acting on right away. I worked my way slowly aft. Dareena was still on the poop deck. She noticed me coming back aft, but I ignored her.

I went to the cabin, found the knife, and slipped it inside my clothing. It wasn't comfortable, but I managed to lodge it flat against my stomach, pointing upwards, with the hilt inside the waistband of my breeches. I closed my tunic over it. I bent over slightly and felt the tip begin to poke into my skin below my sternum.

It might work.

I relieved myself, washed up, then headed back on deck.

Dareena caught up with me and said, "What were you doing?"

"I just visited the facilities," I said. "I didn't realize I needed to ask permission."

She scowled at me. "You're up to something."

"You haven't given me much leeway in those regards. But believe me, if I find any, you'll be the second to know."

Her scowl deepened. "Don't you want peace?"

"I don't believe that peace obtained through treachery is possible. It also disgusts me that you and my former sister will receive the glory while I am vilified. My only solace is that the people guilty of the treachery know they are guilty."

I turned my back on her and walked to the railing. She left me alone for an hour but eventually stepped to my side again. "I am going to bed."

"Have a nice night," I said sweetly.

She sighed. "I am trying not to make it an order, Meorie."

"Why am I in your cabin with you?"

"So that I can keep an eye on you and because spare bunks are not common on the ship. I can't put you with anyone else, so the other choice is to kick the quartermaster out. Putting up with your attitude is a burden I am forced to bear."

"Take the collar off and you won't need to put up with me at all."

"I will take the collar off when I have delivered you to the palace." She paused. "I am going to bed."

I followed her.

I took off my boots but left the rest of my clothing on. I climbed into the bed and moved to the far side. Dareena turned down the lamp and crawled in after me.

"Why are you wearing those clothes?"

"The collar is forcing me to fall in love with you. Skin to skin contact appears to accelerate the process." I paused.

She rolled to face me.

"Lie still and don't move," she ordered.

Then she began stroking me. It immediately felt amazing.

"Please stop," I told her.

"But I like doing this," she said.

"Please stop, Dareena. You know what this is doing."

She felt so amazing. Oh, I didn't want her to stop.

"Yes. You like it, don't you."

"This is beneath you."

She stopped. I suddenly ached for her touch.

"You can't have it both ways. Either I have honor or I don't."

"Making me love the woman doing this to me is almost as cruel as what my sister did. More justice, I presume. Imagine my emotional pain when the woman who I love turns me over for execution. Very creative of you."

"It doesn't have to be execution."

"Oh please," I said. "I thought we already agreed this wasn't justice, it was vengeance."

"No, we agreed that justice does not strike justly. You paying for your crimes is still justice, even when someone else doesn't pay for hers."

I sighed. I'd let myself be drawn into more verbal sparring. "May I move?"

"Yes."

I shifted further away from her until I was against the wall.

After that I clamped my mouth together.

"Do you regret your actions?" I didn't answer. "Do you believe what you did was right?" Silence. She said nothing for a while. "What were you like growing up?" I didn't answer her.

"I see," she said eventually. She stroked me twice before rolling over to sleep.

I waited about fifteen minutes, staring into the dark, lying on my side. Then deliberately, I stretched my legs, bumping her and jostling her back awake. I imagined it annoyed her, and the collar began to punish me.

I kicked backwards, connecting with her, and the collar attacked me with a vengeance. The pain caused me to double over, and I felt the knife pierce my skin. I had managed to hurt myself, and the collar provided more punishment for that, causing me to flail and double further in pain. The knife bit deeper.

I decided it was enough. I could feel the blood flowing out of me.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry I kicked you! Please!"

She waited a while, and another stab of pain caused me to double up again, and the knife cut me again.

I had hoped it would slide under my sternum, but it hadn't. Still, I felt the blood flowing.

"You are forgiven," she said.

The collar immediately stopped punishing me. I panted for a moment, then was able to lie still. "Thank you," I told her.

She had no idea what for.

I felt my blood flowing slowly out of me. I didn't know if it would be enough, but I could hope.

"You did that deliberately," she said. "Why?"

I ignored the question.

"You knew the collar would punish you. Tell me why you did it."

"I wanted the punishment."

That was the truth, and I answered her question.

"Why?"

She hadn't made it an order. "To counteract the love compulsion."

She didn't say anything for a moment. "If you make an honest effort to be more pleasant, I will stop trying to accelerate the process."

"I wonder how you will feel sending a woman who is madly in love with you to her death. Will the thought amuse you or add to the guilt you should already be feeling."

"I feel no guilt."

I didn't respond further. She stilled, and I felt myself continuing to bleed. I wasn't at all sure it would be enough, but I continued to hope.

Men O' War

I slept.

And, regrettably, I woke.

Dareena was screaming at me. "What have you done? You foolish woman, what have you done?"

It was morning. I was lying on my back, and she had pulled the covers off of me.

"What have you done?" she yelled again.

I looked over at her. She was standing at the side of the bed with a look of horror on her face. I licked my lips. "Clearly not enough," I said sadly.

Then she leaned over and began to unbutton my tunic. I looked down and realized the front of the tunic was blood red, but I wasn't dead.

I tried pushing her hands away.

"Lie still!" she ordered.

She opened the front of the tunic and found the knife. She pulled it out and dropped it behind her, then examined the wounds. They were still oozing, but weren't anywhere near as deep as I had hoped.

She ran out of the cabin and I heard her yelling in Tendarian. She returned to the cabin and said, "Why?"

I blinked at her.

"Answer me!" she screamed.

"Freedom," I replied. "Dignity."

She paced around the cabin. After a minute or two, a man carrying a leather case joined us. Dareena pointed at me and talked frantically in Tendarian. He immediately crossed the cabin to me and began to examine my stomach, ignoring my breasts waving in the air for him to look at.

"This is the ship's healer," Dareena said.

"I don't need a healer, unless he'd like to bleed me."

"Stupid woman!" she screamed at me.

I smiled at her. At least I'd managed to scare her. That was worth something. I wondered how she would punish me.

The healer cleaned my cuts. That stung horribly, and I hissed from the pain.

"Good," Dareena said. "I hope it hurts."

"Bitch."

For that transgression, the collar immediately began punishing me, and I doubled up in agony. I clamped my mouth shut and refused to beg her to make it stop. The punishment lasted several seconds before it stopped

Dareena and the healer exchanged more words. Then he laid his hands over the first of the wounds, and his hands began to glow.

"You could let me die!"

"You aren't dying," Dareena said.

Under his magical touch, the wound healed. He healed the second one as well, then cleaned me up. He got up, talked to Dareena for a moment, then left again.

Dareena stormed around the cabin for a while. She hadn't given me permission to move, so I lied there on my side. I recomposed my thoughts and vowed this time I would really avoid being pulled into a war of words with her.

Finally she turned to face me. "Don't you want peace?"

I didn't say a word.

"You are impossible!" she screamed. "You will answer me!"

"Yes, I do." There, I answered her.

"This trial is the key to peace," she said. "I thought you loved your people and would give your life for them. This is your chance."

She hadn't asked a question, so there was nothing to answer.

We held a staring contest. I won. Then I realized she was listening to something outside. She said what sounded like a crude word. "Clean up your mess and come on deck." Then she was gone.

I got off the bed, then turned around and examined the bed covers. There were  spots of blood on the sheets, but hardly any. My attempt had been meager, but it had been worth a try.

I stripped the bed and carried the sheets to the wash room. I set them in the tub to soak then found fresh sheets and made the bed. I dug through my chest and found one more plain tunic. I carried it with me to the wash room, cleaned myself up, then put the new tunic on.

I washed the sheets first as best I could, then my tunic. The tunic looked like it was permanently stained. I decided I could war it with pride.

I hung everything up. I hadn't seen Francis, so I couldn't carry anything below to the hot room for drying. I stepped out onto the deck.

Everyone was in motion. Dareena was issuing orders from the poop, and I realized we had changed course while I was cleaning up. We were pointed west.

"You!" she said, pointing at me from the poop. "Climb up here."

I climbed up to the poop deck and looked around. "There," she said.

I looked where she was pointing and saw two sets of sails on the horizon. I turned to her. "Pirates?"

"Norinian Men o' War."

I smiled. "I wonder if they have heard of your truce." I looked at the sails. "Do they see us?"

"They are pursuing."

"Are we in trouble?"

"Yes."

"I am a princess of Norinia. If you remove this collar, I can accept your surrender."

"If we can last until dark, we can lose them tonight."

I looked at the sun. "Ten hours? I am not a naval captain, Captain, but either you are faster than them or you are slower than them. Either way, this isn't going to really last ten hours, is it?"

I looked at her. "You're too young to be a ship's captain."

"It was a special mission."

"Is this your first command?"

"Yes."

I studied her closely. She was sweating far more than the warmth of the day suggested she should. "You're terrified."

She looked back at me. "Getting you to Rendarin could end the war. That's all that matters."

"You are delusional if you believe that."

"I have a treaty signed by both queens."

"I haven't seen it. I still believe at best it was a ruse to convince Linara to betray me to you."

"Do you believe my personal motivations?" she asked me.

I studied her. "Actually, yes, I do."

"I have not lied to you."

She went back to watching the other ships and calling orders to the men. I watched as they swung through the rigging, making small adjustments to get the most from the sails.

"May I continue to watch from here?"

"Do you promise to attempt no further foolishness like you did with the knife?"

"Of course not. Are you going to be petty about it?"

She looked back to me. "I will make an agreement with you. I will allow you to watch from here until it turns dangerous, after which time you will retreat to the cabin if you agree to something I want."

"It depends upon what you want."

"An honest discussion of peace, if we get out of this."

"Neither of us have any authority on that."

"I could drop you back off in Norinia. Or you could agree to cooperate freely with your transport to Tendaria. Or we could continue to disagree."

"All right," I said. "I agree to a good faith discussion whenever you like."

After that, I stayed on the poop deck, watching. In some ways it was exciting. If they caught us, there would undoubtedly be a battle, unless Dareena surrendered. She could try surrendering with the hopes the other captains would honor the treaty she said she held. I didn't suggest that to her. I wondered if it had occurred to her.

If there was a battle, there would be chaos. We could be sunk. I could die. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing.

And I wondered if her peace was real. It seemed impossible a war of four years old could end so easily.

By early afternoon, it was clear the other ships were faster. At least one of them was, I wasn't sure about the other one yet. I wondered if there were more below the horizon. I commented on that possibility.

"It is impossible to know," Dareena said. "Things are dire enough two to one, and they are bigger than we are, but we may be more maneuverable."

"They probably have more experienced captains, perhaps captains that are accustomed to working together."

"You think I don't already know that?"

"If you let me go in a life raft, I could call them off."

"Or they might sail right past you without seeing you."

"Make it a life raft with a sail. I can point her west." I smiled.

"Interesting offer," Dareena said. "I'll keep it in mind."

The sails didn't exactly get bigger, but over time, it was clear we could see more of each ship as they drew closer, coming above the horizon.

"They're faster," I said.

"Yes."

Throughout all this, Dareena had been giving orders to the crew. There had been small course corrections for reasons I couldn't fathom and frequent small changes to the set of the sails.

By mid-afternoon, I couldn't have judged whether the other ships would catch us before dark. The cabin boys came by, handing out food. "Dareena, I left the sheets hanging up to dry."

She said something to Francis who answered her. "Francis took care of it," she said. "He rewashed your original tunic and breeches; they grew musty. Everything is down below drying off. They will be returned tomorrow."

"Thank you."

She nodded.

By late afternoon, I could see the hulls of both ships. They were still quite a ways off, but I didn't think we would make it until dark.

"Dareena," I said. "Why hasn't Tendaria used battle magic in the war? I've been in several skirmishes, and in none of them has any magic been used."

"That is a state secret," she said. "I won't answer questions like that."

"If it's because you can't, then it perhaps might also mean that those ships aren't expecting battle magic to be used and may not have any means to counteract it."

She turned to look at me. "This is a moot conversation."

"Is it? Why am I wearing this amulet if I have no magic?"

She laughed. "As if you would use your magic against your own ships. You want them to catch us."

"Remove the amulet and the collar and I will disable both ships. Then you set me on a life raft and sail away. You can save everyone aboard. I can go home and confront my betraying sister. Everyone wins. Well, except my sister."

"I am sorry, but I must decline your offer. I have a counter offer."

"Oh, do tell."

"If you vow to accept the collar and amulet afterwards, I will allow you to disable the ships and we sail away with you."

"You would trust me not to sink us?"

"If you vowed on your honor, yes."

I thought about what she was implying. "Interesting offer. I must decline. You shouldn't trust me, anyway."

"You would violate your oath?"

"Why not? You did."

She was silent for a while, and we went back to watching the other ships. Fifteen minutes later, they were noticeably closer. "Could you really disable them?"

"Honestly? I don't know. It is a significant distance over salt water. I've never tried to use magic on the open sea. I also wouldn't know what to do."

"Disabling their rudders would be sufficient."

The next time the first mate drew close, Dareena talked to him for a moment, and he handed her a spyglass. She studied both ships for a time then handed the spyglass back to the mate.

"May I see?"

She looked at me.

"I have been polite all afternoon. What would it hurt?"

She nodded and talked to the mate. He handed me the spyglass. I extended it and peered through it.

It was a trick to use it on the rolling deck of the ship, but I grew used to it after a few moments. I studied the nearest ship.

"Oh, what do you know?" I said. "That ship is the Enigma."

Dareena took the spyglass back from me and looked at the ship. "I don't see a name. It would only be on the stern."

"Do you see the captain?"

"It is way too far away to recognize the captain from here."

"Do you see the unusual hat he is wearing? That is Mindo Grayson. I've known him all my life, and I've never seen him without that hat. He is a very experienced captain. Granted, he was a merchant captain before the war. Maybe he doesn't know how to conduct a sea battle."

"Would he recognize you?"

"Not at this distance, as you say. Not even much closer unless he has reason to expect me."

"But if we were in hailing distance, then yes?"

"Then yes. I would make a good ransom."

She didn't respond. We continued to run from the Norinian ships, but it was clear we would be in cannon range long before dark.

"You are going to lose, Captain," I said. "You can negotiate your surrender terms with me."

She turned to look at me. "If you have any offers that get you to your trial, I will consider them."

"You are awfully single minded."

"You are awfully cheerful compared to earlier."

There was a cry from the crow's nest. Dareena smiled. "We haven't lost yet."

She didn't offer to elaborate.

"Are you going to make me ask?"

She didn't respond.

"Captain, why haven't we lost?"

"Because the lookout reports land."

"Tendaria?"

"Possibly Norinia, but more likely the Marsh of Neebo. I haven't taken a sighting since this morning, but I was aiming for the marsh."

"Another fifty miles and you could have run us aground in Tendaria, perhaps made it to the port at Terini."

"Yes. What bad luck."

At that, the Enigma fired from one of its bow chaser cannon's. I couldn't even see where the ball landed.

"That seemed silly," I said.

"He is just saying 'hello'." Dareena turned to me. "It is time for you to go below."

"Please let me stay."

"It is too dangerous. Your life is too valuable. And yes, I recognize the irony."

"The stern most cabin is going to be distinctly safer?"

"You will be hiding in the safe locker. It will protect you from all but a direct cannon ball strike."

"You're going to lock me in a closet for the next several hours?"

"I'm sorry."

I eyed the other ships. "You won't consider surrender?"

"No."

"You have time to tell me your plan at least."

"We are shallower than they are. There are countless shoals off the Marsh of Neebo. Maybe they'll run aground. If not, and we can't escape, I'll drive the ship to shore. You and I will flee inland while my men draw them off in another direction."

I started to laugh. "You have never been to the Marsh of Neebo. It is, well, a Marsh. There is no inland. If you wreck us there, the only way to leave is by boat. Plan accordingly. Where is the safe locker?"

"Follow," she said. She headed to the ladder leading from the poop back to the main deck. I followed behind her, taking one last glance at the pursuing ships. It would be a fight soon.

She entered the passageway to her cabin but stopped at the first door on the right. She held it open for me. It was an exceedingly thick door of solid timber. She ushered me in.

"Please don't lock me in here."

"I am sorry. Get in."

Meekly I stepped past her. There was a small bench. I sat down on it.

"Meorie, you will remain in this room with the door closed until someone comes to get you, the fighting has clearly stopped, or you are in immediate danger of drowning. You will take all precaution with your own safety. If you leave this cabin and are not in my company, you will make all effort to travel to the palace in Rendarin and present yourself to the guards. Do you understand?"

I hung my head. "Yes."

She pulled a watertight satchel from inside her tunic. "Meorie, you will keep this safe. Put it inside your tunic and do not lose it." I had no choice but was forced to do as she said. "You will leave it there until I ask for it back or until you present it to the queen in Rendarin."

"It's the treaty?"

"Yes."

"It's real?"

"Yes."

She began to close the door. "Please don't leave me here, Dareena." I paused. "I will cooperate."

She stopped closing the door and looked at me. "Why would you offer that?"

"The worst is not knowing. Not knowing what will happen during this battle. Not knowing what will happen at the trial. Not knowing if you have been lying to me. Not knowing if my sister is suffering for what she has done, if you aren't lying. Not knowing how you will execute me." I paused. "Not to mention, this is a jail cell. I haven't been convicted of anything yet." I smiled wanly. "Will my time in here count towards my punishment after the trial, along with my tortures earlier?"

She offered a small laugh. "I am truly sorry."

Then she closed the door.

"Dareena! Please!" I said to the closed door. There was no response. I banged my hands against it several times, but she had forbidden me opening the door.

I slumped in the dark.

* * *

A while later, there was cannon fire. I felt the ship maneuvering, changing direction. I wondered if people were dying.

It seemed like perhaps there was a lot of firing with little effect. We would maneuver, and then I would hear the cannons, and then we maneuvered again.

The door was thick. I couldn't hear any yelling or screaming. I couldn't tell if any of the noises I heard were of cannon fire ripping through the Ysura Martani.

I hoped Captain Grayson remained unhurt. He had been kind to me as a child.

I truly didn't know how I wanted this battle to end. I would have liked Dareena to surrender, but it was clear if she had any way of getting me to her home, she was going to do it. Surrender didn't seem in the cards unless it was her last choice.

Then there was a loud groaning noise, and the ship heeled dramatically to starboard. After a moment, the grinding stopped, and we popped back to level.

But something had changed. I couldn't tell what it was, but our motion in the water was different.

When we were hit by a broadside of cannon, the sounds were obvious. Then our motion resumed, although sluggishly.

We were hit twice more. I wondered who was still alive.

There was another grinding sound, and all our motion stopped. The ship began listing heavily to starboard again, and the grinding sound came and went. I heard surf smashing into the ship, and it felt like perhaps we were being beaten against a large rock.

The locker door opened. It was Dareena. "Meorie, thank the gods. Come quickly."

Obediently I followed her.

Due to the list of the ship, it was difficult walking. I had to brace myself on the sides of the passageway. Dareena led me to the main deck of the ship, offering me a hand to steady myself. I looked around.

The masts were down and fouled. I saw a dozen dead or dying sailors. To the right, I saw the railing of the ship buried below the surging seawater. Looking across the water in the distance I saw land, perhaps a half mile away.

Everything was chaos.

"Hurry, Princess! They're coming back."

"They would fire on us?"

"Of course. We make good target practice now."

"That's barbaric!"

"That's war. A war you started."

"I do not accept responsibility for the choices of others."

"Now is not the time to argue." She grabbed my arm and pulled me along the deck. "Can you swim?"

"Yes."

"Jump!"

We jumped together landing with a pair of splashes in the water. I was immediately pulled under for a moment, but bobbed to the surface. I thought about kicking off my boots, but I was sure I was going to want them.

Dareena grabbed some flotsam and pushed it to me, keeping some for herself. I hung on, bobbing in the water. She clutched at me. "You will swim for that bit of beach. If you get there before I do, you will wait for me. If I do not make it, you will head to the palace in Rendarin. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

It was a long swim. We stayed together. Other crewmen swam with us, some faster, some slower. Dareena helped none of them. Her only focus was on getting the two of us to land.

"Shouldn't we help them?"

"There are others to offer help," she said. "Keep swimming."

Behind us, the Norinian ships sent several more broadsides into the hull of the Ysura Martani. Twice we were peppered with shrapnel, but neither of us was hurt. Our safety improved as we swam further away.

"Will they send long boats to rescue us?"

"I wouldn't," she said.

"Will they send marines to kill us?"

"Why bother? The swamp will do it for them."

Then something exploded on the dying ship behind us. Something -- I didn't see what -- flew through the air and glanced off Dareena's head. She slumped and began to slip under the water.

I grabbed for her. I got a hand twisted in her clothes and pulled her above the water, then I grabbed the flotsam she'd been hanging onto and pulled it under her.

"Dareena!" I yelled, shaking her. "Dareena!"

There was no response. But when I checked, she was breathing.

I thought about letting her sink. None of my orders involved saving her life. I could let her sink. I looked around, and none of the sailors was close. No one would see if I let her go.

I held onto her and tugged her to the beach with me.

Stranded

We made it to the beach. It was a small, narrow strip of sand. I imagined in the highest tides, it might be completely underwater. I pulled Dareena clear of the water and collapsed in the sand next to her. I checked her breathing and she seemed okay.

I lied next to her for a time. A few of the sailors were already lying exhausted in the sand around us, and two more emerged from the water a short while after Dareena and I had reached shore.

Darkness fell, and none of us was moving.

There was a three quarters moon offering some light. I sat up and checked on Dareena. She was unchanged.

I looked at the moon, and I looked at the waves crashing against the shore. I decided the tide was going out but was near low tied. I couldn't tell how high the water would come, so I dragged Dareena higher from the water. No one offered to help me.

The Marsh of Neebo is a section of land along the coast between Norinia and Tendaria. It is only about fifty miles wide along the coast and forty miles deep, but it is all marsh. Beaches like this were rare. It was impossible to travel by land through the marsh, only by boat.

The coastline of the Marsh of Neebo was dominated by mangrove swamps. The beach we were on was a rare occurrence. I walked up the beach and discovered we were on a little spit of land, but everywhere I looked was either the open sea or a mangrove swamp.

I walked up and down the beach, collecting any of the wreckage that looked useful. I even threw any driftwood I found further up the sand; we may want firewood. I didn't find much that was useful, but there were three jugs that turned out to contain fresh water. Those I carried back and set next to Dareena.

Some of the men perked up at sight of the water. "Do any of you speak Norinian?" I asked.

They all looked at me blankly.

I crouched down near Dareena and said clearly, "Captain," pointing to her. Then "Princess," pointing to her, then "Princess" again, pointing to me. I set the jugs leaning against Dareena and said again, "Captain."

I hoped they understood. She was in charge. If she woke up. And if they drank the water, I would tell her.

I continued to prowl the beach, pulling things from the water, discarding almost all of them, checking on Dareena periodically. She didn't wake up. On the other hand, the men left the water alone. I wondered how long that would last.

I wondered if there was any way to make a fire. I wondered if we wanted one.

I found a wooden mug. I took it back to Dareena.

The men were watching me. I wondered if they had seen me pull her from the water. They had certainly seen me drag her further up the beach. I checked on her. No change. I grabbed one of the jugs of water, used a tiny amount to rinse out the mug, then gave myself a small drink. After that I went around to the men, giving each of them a small drink.

Several of them used a word. I didn't recognize it. I presumed it meant thank you.

When everyone on the beach had had a drink, I set the jug back next to Dareena and settled down next to her.

I grew tired. I collected the jugs and set them against Dareena's back, then I curled up and cuddled the combination of small captain and water jugs. I was asleep almost instantly.

Sometime in the early morning, she woke. I woke with her. I checked. No one had stolen any of the water jugs. I checked on Dareena.

"Good morning," I told her. "Did you have a nice nap?"

She rolled over to look at me, bumping against the jugs. She said something in Tendarian.

"I hope you remember Norinian, Dareena, or we are going to have a difficult time negotiating my release."

She blinked and looked at me. "Meorie?" She sat up and looked around, holding her head.

"I recognize that look," I said.

"What did you do to me?"

"Me? Why are you blaming me?"

"What are all these between us?"

"Water jugs. I put them there so I would wake up if anyone tried to steal them."

She looked around. The men were all asleep. It was just growing light in the east. The moon had set some time ago. "What happened?"

"You got knocked out. I dragged you to shore." I gave her a summary.

"You could have let me drown."

"I could. I didn't. I will be heading north."

She looked at me sadly. "Do you still have the satchel?"

I thumped my chest. "Yes."

"Please give it to me."

I pulled it out of my tunic and handed the satchel to her. She looked it over. I hadn't disturbed it, but it had been in the water a long time. I had no idea if it had remained water tight. She looked at it dubiously.

"Not my fault," I told her. "You told me to jump."

"My head hurts," she said.

"Welcome to my world," I told her. I gave her a drink of water.

She sat quietly for a while. Then she turned to me. "I'm sorry."

"I don't blame you for the shipwreck. Tendaria is that way." I pointed south. "Norinia is that way." I pointed north. "If you'll remove this collar and amulet, I will be on my way as soon as I can figure out how to build a boat. If you ask nicely, I'll help you build one, too. I just want one jug of the water."

"Meorie, I am sorry."

"You're not going to let me go."

"I'm sorry."

"You owe me. I saved your life. I could have let you drown, but I didn't. The collar would have released me. I was bound to you, not to anyone else. I would be free now."

"I know. I'm sorry."

I stared at her. "You are an honorless, evil bitch. I hope your soul rots."

I left her there on the beach and stormed off, finding a spot as far away as the collar would allow, then sat down with my back to her.

I watched as she organized the remaining men to collect everything they could from the wreckage. Miraculously, my chest of clothes was found. I imagined everything in it was ruined, but Dareena walked over to sit next to me.

"Unless you have an order I am to follow, leave me alone."

"I wouldn't have guessed it," she said. "But the contents of your chest are dry. You can have dry clothes if you want them."

I didn't answer her. She sat quietly next to me, then she reached out to stroke me, but I moved away from her as fast as I could. She got up and left me alone.

One of the men stopped by after a while and offered me water. I ignored him.

Some of the men swam out to what was left of the wreck. They came back pushing a large clump of stuff, all tied together into some sort of raft. I didn't pay attention to whatever they had.

Of the ship's boats there was no sign. I didn't know if they had been used earlier, destroyed in the wreckage, or taken by some of the men. There were no boats, no ship, and nothing but mangrove swap and ocean in sight.

I didn't see how, but they got a fire going, and some of the men figured out how to catch fish. Dareena walked over and sat down. She had two plates and the mug with a few swallows of water. I wondered how salty the fish was and how long the water would last.

She tried to hand me one of the plates, but I ignored her.

"If you make me order you, I will also start to treat you as a puppet again. If you cooperate, I will offer you as much dignity as I can."

I ignored her.

"Damn it, Meorie!"

"What do you want from me? Do you expect me to be cheerful? Well, at least when you stab me, you stab me in the front. For that I should be cheerful and cooperative? Is that even remotely a reasonable expectation?"

"Eat your fish, drink your share of the water, and I am going to show you the treaty."

It was an order. I ate the fish sullenly and drank half the water. I glared at her the entire time.

I was still thirsty. I imagined it was going to get a lot worse.

She ate her fish and finished the water. Then she stood up and said, "Follow."

I again had no choice. I followed her back to camp. She hadn't told me to bring my plate, so I left it on the sand. She turned around and noticed my empty hands. She looked pained. "Bring the plate with you," she said. I went back and got it.

She drew me back to the camp and ordered me to sit. I sat. She handed the plates and mug to someone then pulled the satchel out from inside her tunic. She opened it very carefully. "It stayed dry," she said. "Thank you for preserving it."

She pulled the treaty out. Before she gave it to me, she ordered me, "You will treat this with the most care possible."

I nodded. If it were a real treaty, she wouldn't have had to order me.

She handed it to me. It was a single sheet of parchment paper. "There are addendums," she said. "But that is the basic agreement."

I looked at it. It was written in Tendarian. "I can't read it."

"Please look at the signatures at the bottom."

I wouldn't have recognized Queen Fridara's hand, but there was a signature and seal that purported to be hers. I readily recognized Linara's signature and seal. They looked authentic, although without my magic, I couldn't verify. I told Dareena that.

"Do you think it's fake?"

I thought about it. "No. What would be the point?"

"Will you trust me to translate it to you?"

I nodded. She moved to sit next to me and pointed with her finger. She read each passage, first in Tendarian, then gave me a translation. Assuming she was offering an honest translation, it was a treaty. More importantly, it was a fair treaty, to everyone except me.

I was actually mentioned by name. I was clause four.

The first part of the treaty discussed the basic terms. It was an agreement to an immediate and permanent cessation of hostilities. Then I was discussed, then the reasons for the war was discussed with an acceptance of blame on both sides. Tendaria offered small reparations, as it was agreed their forces had crossed the border first, but the reparations were small.

Clause four required that I stand trial in Rendarin for my war crimes. No details were offered.

"Do any of the addendums refer to me?"

"No. All other agreements about you were verbal."

"Do you believe the treaty will be fully ratified by both sides?"

"It has already been ratified by Norinia. It was agreed to by Tendaria, and none of the addendums are going to be a problem. They are just details."

"So it will be ratified if I arrive in Rendarin. What are the chances that won't happen? If, for instance, one of your warships is attacked and suck by a pair of Norinian warships?"

She went back to one of the clauses and reread it. It basically said that it is understood by both sides that not all forces involved in the conflict would receive immediate notification of the cessation of hostilities, and that both sides would defend themselves without being the aggressor, retreating from conflict as much as possible.

"So your sunk ship won't change things."

"No."

I looked at her. "I won't forgive my sister or anyone else in Norinia. Ever. They stabbed me in the back. They should at least have had the decency to talk to me."

"I don't care," she said. "I care only that you go to Rendarin."

"I will cooperate. I don't promise to be pleasant."

Dareena's smile outshone the sun. "Thank you."

"If you are lying, it is your soul that will rot."

"I am not lying."

I got up from the sand and brushed myself off. "Let me know when you figure out how to get there." Then I walked away, back to my spot on the beach.

Dareena followed me. I turned to stare at her.

"I had the impression you had a plan," she said.

"My plan involved building a boat. So, build a boat."

"We have no tools," she said.

"Then it may make it take a while."

I sat down in the sand, staring out over the ocean. Dareena sat down beside me. "Meorie, it's a real peace. Surely you understand how important this is. Did you lie when you said you would give your life for peace?"

"No."

"Do you think I am lying?"

I sighed. "No."

"Will you please help me make this peace happen? Not just cooperate, but actively help."

I sighed. "I think I can make a boat, but I got the impression from you Norinia was much closer than Tendaria. I was planning a boat that would get me to Norinia."

"How could you make this boat?"

"It's a moot point. You would need to allow me to use my magic."

"You can make a boat with your magic?"

"No, some of the mangrove trees looked big enough to be worth hollowing out. I can cut one down, cut it to length, give it a very rough shape, and hollow it out. I would be completely exhausted, but I think I can do it. I've never tried. I've never built a boat or studied boat building. It would be the least seaworthy boat you could ever imagine. But it would float, and if we could fashion a paddle, paddling it would be possible."

"Could you hollow out two?"

"It might take two days." I paused. "And probably more of the water than you would be willing to spare."

"If I removed the collar and the amulet, would you promise to make the two boat hulls and then allow me to replace the amulet and collar?"

I stared at her. "You ask a lot."

"I know. You know what is at stake."

"If you trust me, why do you need the amulet and collar?"

"Two reasons. First, you might change your mind. Second, everyone else we encounter will feel safer and are less likely to kill you out of hand."

I looked away. "Fine. If this peace doesn't happen, you will know what you did to me. I will have to die knowing that."

"Do you promise to let me put these back on you when I ask to?"

"I promise you may replace them under the same terms that were given when you first put them on."

She nodded and reached out. The collar fell from my neck. Then she removed the amulet as well.

I felt their magical bonds leave me immediately. I felt amazingly free. "Oh wow," I said. "Wow."

I looked away for a while, collecting my thoughts. "All right," I said. "Does anyone here know more about building a canoe than I do?"

I looked over at Dareena and she was smiling. "Not a canoe," she said. "A catamaran. We have a sail. We have a lot of rope and cordage. If you can cut the trees, we can build a sailboat."

"All right," I said. "Go pick the trees you want."

We stood up together and walked to the edge of the swamp. I watched as she stepped into it, sinking into the mud. She backed up.

I sighed and stepped up to the nearest tree. I could reach it from dry ground. I looked at it. "Dareena, please move your men out of range for when this falls. I don't know which way it's going to go."

"That one is too small."

"It will provide a mast and other parts. More importantly, we can use it to make a little walkway further into the swamp."

"How long will your magic last?"

"We'll find out. I've never done this."

Then I thought about how to take the tree down using the lowest application of my magic I could. Everyone's magic was different. Mine was basically the ability to delivery small bursts of energy, usually about the size of a fist.

I stood to the side of the tree, gathered my magic, and threw it at the tree in a glancing blow. It took out a chunk of the tree in a shower of splinters. I had aimed for above where the roots of the tree branched out from the main trunk.

Dareena stood behind me, watching. I had warned her for her men, and if it fell on them now, it wasn't my fault.

I sent several more bolts of power through the tree, chewing through it. The tree began to lean towards the cut I had made. I slowed down, delivering two more blasts, and the tree began to fall. I watched it, then stepped aside as it came down on the beach, startling the men. I had aimed for them and was very disappointed when I had missed.

"Nice aim," Dareena said.

"Not exactly," I said. "I was aiming another five degrees to the left."

She looked and gave me a wan smile. "Cute."

"I told you to move them. Do we have any tools at all?"

"Sorry."

I sighed, then began working my way up the tree, using my magic to knock off the branches. What a waste of magic. I tried controlling the bursts, but it wasn't the sort of magic to do surgery.

"Dareena, if you would be so kind as to have your men attempt to use the branches as a walkway to whatever trees you would like next. We'll see if that works better than walking in the mud."

"What do you mean, a walkway?"

"Like snowshoes?"

"Like what?"

I signed and walked back to the edge of the swamp, dragging several branches with me. I tossed them down on the mud, then walked on them, letting the branches spread my weight out further. I sunk, but not very far.

"Oh. I understand now."

"I can bring down one more tree then will need to rest and will need water."

I sat down and watched her direct the men. They managed to build a path to a large tree. Dareena sat down next to me and asked, "Can you drop this one back in this direction?"

"I can try. No promises." I paused. "Do we at least have some knives or swords or something?"

"One knife."

I nodded, then walked out to the tree she wanted. They had set extra branches near the tree so I had more to stand on. I stared at it, then began throwing my magic at it. It took me nearly a half hour to bring it down, and I was firing little more than fizzles by the time I was done.

The tree almost landed on Dareena. She had to scramble out of the way as it fell.

"You did that on purpose!" she yelled at me.

"If you think you can aim better, you can bring down the next one," I told her, leaning on the trunk, exhausted."

She stood waiting for me. I stood, leaning on the tree.

"Well?" she asked.

"Well what?"

"Aren't you going to cut it up?" she yelled at me.

I looked at the path back to dry land. The tree had fallen on it. I sighed and began working my way back to her. I almost lost a boot in the muck, but I made it back and sat down heavily.

"Well?"

I sighed and tossed a bolt at the tree. It sputtered and died. I blew on my finger like it was hot.

"Stop messing around, Meorie."

I looked at her. "I told you I could bring it down, then I would need a rest. I didn't say I would cut it up, too."

She walked over to me and put her hands on her hips, staring down at me. "How long a rest?"

"I don't know. A few hours."

She glared at me.

"Look," I said. "If you don't like my boat building skills, find someone else. Or say 'thank you for the huge headache you've given yourself running yourself out of magic'. Pick one or the other."

She turned to her men and issued some orders. They immediately jumped to and began doing something. I'm not sure what. She walked to camp and then came back. She was holding the collar and amulet.

"Oh, Dareena, please. A few hours. Please."

"You promised you would take them back when I asked. I am asking."

"You don't know what a relief it is to be done with them."

"You could run off."

"I won't run off. I'm going to take a nap. Please don't ask."

"I'm sorry."

"You're sorry a lot." I didn't resist as she draped the amulet around my neck. I felt it cut me off from my magic. Then she put the slave collar back on and dictated my agreement. I repeated after her, and I felt it's magic exert itself. I looked up at her and offered the worst betrayed look I could.

Then she gave me my orders. I was to make no attempt to escape, to hurt myself, to hurt anyone else. The list went on.

"Fine," I said.

I started to lie down right where I was but Dareena said, "The men are building a shelter for you, to get you out of the sun."

I looked, and they were almost done. They had used branches from the first tree I had cut down and sail material to cover it. I reached up to Dareena, and she pulled me to my feet. Then I stumbled over to the makeshift shelter, smiled briefly at the men, and crawled underneath it.

I was asleep almost immediately.

* * *

I woke some time later. Dareena was kneeling over me, stroking me.

"What are you doing?"

Her touch felt amazing.

I tried pulling away from her, but she said, "Lie still," and kept stroking me.

"You promised."

"I have two kinds of magic. I have the binding magic you've experienced. And I have the ability to feed magic to someone else. I'm feeding your magic."

The strokes felt insanely wonderful, each one better than the other. I looked up, and she was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen.

"Please stop."

"We only have two more jugs of water," she said. "No sign of rain. I am so sorry."

She continued stroking me, and soon I was clutching at her like an addict. And still she stroked me, and I reached up and pulled her mouth to mine.

She was surprised.

She tasted salty and wonderful. She kissed me back, and it was like a kiss from heaven.

Finally she broke the kiss and moved away from me.

"It's the collar," she said. "Just the collar. It will wear off."

"No it won't."

"It's just the collar."

I sighed. "Believe what you want."

She took a deep breath. "Will you agree to work on the boat and then accept the amulet and collar when next I ask?"

"Yes."

She removed them both then backed out of the small space. I followed after her, avoiding touching her.

It was late afternoon. I had slept for an hour or two. I stretched then looked at the tree I had cut down. The men had removed the smallest branches, but the larger ones had proven to be too much. I turned to Dareena. "Do I need to take down a second tree, or can we use two pieces from this one?"

"We have a second tree picked out, and we have marked where you should cut this one."

"May I have some water?"

She nodded and said something to one of the men. He poured water for me and gave me the mug. I looked at it. There wasn't a lot of water. I drank what he had given me and didn't ask for more.

I walked over to the big tree. Dareena followed me. "Can you give me an approximate shape to cut? It will reduce the shaping I need to do later."

"Any angle is fine. It's going to be a poor boat no matter what we do."

I knelt down and then envisioned the smallest amounts of energy I could. I began cutting the trunk of the tree at an angle, working my way from the part nearest the ground. It took me ten minutes, but I felt less drained than I had after cutting it down to begin with.

"I will feed you more magic now."

I looked at her. "I'm not wearing the collar."

She smiled. "No, you're not. May I?"

I nodded. She approached and began stroking my arms. It felt nice, but without the collar helping, it was just normal nice. Still, she was lovely and I found my body responding to her. "You realize I am probably in love with you, Dareena," I said very quietly.

"I know," she said. "I am sorry. It was not my intention."

"Why is that excuse acceptable for you but not for me?"

"Because I haven't killed anyone. And because my trial won't make peace." She continued to pet me for a while before she said, "How is that?"

"Good." I moved down the tree, removing the limbs that were in the way. Then Dareena led me to the other tree they wanted me to cut. She had me well filled with magic, and I was able to take it down fairly easily.

"More?"

"How much more do you have?"

"I can fill you three or four more times." I leaned against the downed trunk, and Dareena began stroking my arms. I tried to ignore how close she was, and how much I wanted her.

"You have a lot to answer for with me," I told her.

"Is loving me that horrible?"

"Unrequited love, so much fun," I said. "And knowing you are the architect of my demise. That makes it especially sweet. Knowing you don't care about me as anything other than someone to lead to her execution, well, that just adds additional spice. The ultimate in dangerous sex play."

She didn't say anything. Once I was full, I cut the trunk to length, trying to match the other one as much as I could, then removed the branches from the section we were going to use.

I looked around. "Tide is coming in."

"This will be wet in another ten minutes," she said.

I looked at the trunk, then began hollowing it out, using little slivers of magic, as best I could. Still, I hadn't gotten very far when I turned to Dareena. "Got more for me?"

She nodded and filled me up. She had to do it twice more before I had the trunk hollow. One more trunk to go.

"How are you doing?" I asked her.

"Once, maybe twice more, and I'm out," she said. She was holding her head.

"Keep going or go replenish? We won't finish without rest."

"Do as much as we can," she said. She topped me up, but I could tell it was an effort for her.

I got a start on the second trunk, but it was just a start, before we were both too low on magic to go further. Together we stumbled back to the beach. Dareena gave her men some orders. I collapsed in the sand.

"They have more fish," she said. One of the men brought us both plates and the mug with several swallows of water each.

We ate, drank, and collapsed together inside the lean to. She didn't remember the collar. I didn't remind her. We fell asleep.

When I woke next, it was dusk. I held Dareena in my arms. I let go of her, rolled over, and went back to sleep. I woke again later with Dareena shaking me gently. It was full dark.

"What? Sleep."

"I forgot the amulet and collar."

"And I didn't run off."

She slipped the amulet over my neck anyway, then attached the collar in place. I sighed. She recited what she wanted me to say, I repeated it, and the magic settled in. Then she repeated all the orders designed to keep me her docile prisoner.

"I hate you," I told her.

"No you don't. I am sorry."

"It was nice holding you while we slept. One of us needs to sleep somewhere else now. I vote for it to be you."

She crawled out of the shelter. I rolled over and went to sleep.

I didn't wake again until the morning. Dareena was shaking me gently. I rolled over and was amazingly stiff. My neck creaked.

"It's daylight," she said. "Please get up."

I crawled out of the shelter. The sun wasn't even up yet. "Will you accept the amulet and collar when you are done?"

"Yes."

She stepped up to me and removed them both, then pointed to the tree trunk.

"A little water first, please." She nodded, poured from the jug, and gave me a few swallows. I drank it then turned to the tree trunk. I stepped up to it and began hollowing it out further. Dareena came over and watched. When I started to lag, she stepped up to me and replenished my magic.

"Are you full?"

"No. I hope you don't need more than two more refills."

I looked into the tree. "I'll do my best."

It was rough, but when I was done, the trunk was hollowed out. It probably wasn't remotely as thin as it could have been, but it was as thin as I could make it without punching all the way through.

"Anything else?" I asked Dareena.

"Yes, but not much. Just a few timbers cut to proper lengths. We have them marked."

She showed me. I ran out of magic just as I finished. She was out as well. "I guess that was good timing. I am going back to sleep."

"Collar."

I sighed. "Do you have enough magic left to bind my legs?"

"You want me to bind your legs?"

"No collar until I've had a few more hours of sleep. Then switch."

She thought about it and nodded. We walked back to the shelter. She slipped the amulet over my head, but not the collar, then let me crawl into the shelter. She found something to wrap around my legs, then did something, and the bonds became tight.

"Thank you," I said. I crawled into the shelter and fell asleep.

I woke a few times, but each time I rolled over and went back to sleep.

It was mid afternoon when Dareena knelt over me, shaking me lightly. I rolled over and looked at her.

"It's done. Collar."

I nodded. She slipped the collar on me, I repeated what she told me to say, and then she gave me her standard orders. After that she released my legs.

"Meorie, thank you."

"Does it even float?"

"Yes. We tested it. It's a bitch to sail, but it works." She paused. "There isn't room for everyone."

I stared at her. "What are you going to do? It would take another two days to make a second one."

"Four men volunteered to be left behind."

"They will die."

"They are going to try heading to Norinia. Swimming."

"Ten, maybe twenty miles?"

"They can take advantage of the tide. They might make it."

"Brave men."

"Everyone knows what is at stake." She paused. "Everyone knows you could have escaped. They saw your magic."

"I promised. I keep my promises."

"So do I."

"Not all of them."

"I am sorry. I have human weaknesses." She paused. "Please come now. We're going to leave."

"Not going to wait until morning?"

"We're almost out of water."

I nodded and crawled from the shelter.

The boat was pulled up on the beach a few yards away. It looked terrible. It was truly ugly. I had done a poor job shaping the logs. I told Dareena that.

"You were rushed, and you did something no one else could have. You didn't have to offer."

"Make sure you have the treaty."

She patted her chest. "Right here."

We walked together to the boat. There were two hulls with timbers dropped across them and lashed into place. Across the timbers was a pile of gear, including my chest. There was a sail and I saw they had fashioned dagger boards and crude rudders.

I stared at it dubiously. "It really floats? I was working off bravado when I suggested it."

"It floats. It actually sails in the direction pointed. We can even steer it."

I looked at her. "All right, tell me what you want me to do."

Dareena called to the men. She hugged four of them, the ones who would be staying behind, and talked briefly. Then she gave orders to the others. They started pushing the boat into the water. It was clearly heavy, and the light surf coming in didn't help. The men got the boat fully floated. It did indeed float. Dareena turned to me. "I want you in the front left. I will be in the front right. Lie as low as you can and hang on. Please forgive the contact with anyone else in the boat with you."

I nodded then took off my boots and waded out to the boat. A wave splashed over me, soaking me to my breasts. I tossed the boots into the boat then tried to climb aboard. One of the men came over and helped me get in. He was kind and gentle about it.

I settled into the bottom of the boat. It was lumpy and not at all comfortable. I felt the boat rocking too and fro as other people climbed in. Then we were moving.

I poked my nose over the edge and watched the beach go slowly past. Dareena looked over at me from her hull and grinned. Our camp site retreated behind us with four men watching us as we slowly sailed away from them.

I made myself as comfortable as I could. The seas were gentle here, but still I occasionally got wet. I looked over to Dareena. "Will you find a way for me to clean up before you deliver me to my final doom?"

"Yes," she said. "I promise."

"I would prefer arriving at the palace looking like a princess, not a drowned rat."

She laughed. "So would I."

"Do you know where we are?"

"The coast along here looks all the same. No. And we're slow. We're only doing about three knots."

"Sail all night or pull up in a few hours."

"Pull up when we see somewhere."

I nodded and wondered if I could nap. A wave slapped me letting me know the answer.

We sailed that way for about four hours before Dareena pointed to a narrow slip of sand. The men grounded the front of the boat on the beach, everyone jumped out, and we pulled the boat up onto the shore.

The men set up a camp. I collapsed and was soon asleep.

Dareena woke me sometime later. A fire was going. There was a small amount of fish and she gave me a little water.

I found myself clutching at her, hating myself for it. She settled down next to me and let me hold her.

"Meorie," she said after a while. "It's not entirely unrequited."

"So that's like saying you're fond of me?"

"That's like saying I will do what I can to help you."

I let go of her and moved away from her. We all stared at the fire for a while. The men appeared to be telling stories to each other. I didn't bother asking for translations.

After a while I moved away from the fire and settled back into my nest to sleep. Dareena left me alone.

* * *

In the morning, we were out of water. The men tied everything back aboard our boat. Together we launched the boat and climbed aboard.

The weather was fair. The wind had shifted, and it was choppier, but the boat behaved properly and we continued southward along the coast.

We didn't stop for any breaks. The water grew rougher, and the men and Dareena consulted with each other. I didn't ask for an explanation. We kept sailing south.

I tried to settle into the bottom of the boat and sleep. I kept getting splashed, which was hard to ignore, especially as I was lying in a puddle of water. After a while I gave up and poked my nose over the edge of the hull. "Dareena," I said. She turned to look at me. "You sure do show a girl a good time."

She began laughing, then translated it for the men. They joined in the laughter.

I zoned out, as uncomfortable as I was. The next time I was paying attention and looked towards shore, there was no more mangrove swamp.

"Dareena?"

"Welcome to Tendaria, Princess Meorie."

"I wonder if this visit will turn out better than the last one."

She turned to face me. "Was that a joke?"

"Laughing in the face of my own death. What else am I to do? Are you going to cut the condemned a little slack?"

"You're not condemned yet."

"Let's not lie to each other. Haven't we been through enough, we can agree to be honest?"

"I am being honest."

"What are the chances I will be alive in two weeks?"

"I honestly don't know."

"What are the chances I will be back in Norinia in a few weeks, screaming at my sister?"

"Almost certainly no chance at all," Dareena said.

"What are the chances I will be treated in a manner befitting a princess?"

"I promise it."

I sighed. "You aren't the queen."

"You will be treated befitting your station."

"I will be abused, and you are delusional if you believe otherwise."

She didn't respond.

I watched the coast past slowly by for a while. "What is your plan now?"

"We're making for Terini. We should see it in another hour."

"Before or after that storm arrives?"

She looked around wildly. "What storm?" Then she looked at me and caught me grinning at her. "Is that the game you want to play?"

"I thought perhaps you would allow me a little fun."

She looked at me and nodded.

I watched the coast. It was rocky cliffs here, but looking ahead, I saw the land slope down to the sea, and there was something that looked like an inlet.

"Terini?" I asked. Dareena nodded. "I won't live five steps if you tell anyone who I am."

"I thought you wanted to die."

"If my trial will bring peace, then I'd rather die for peace than die to a mob."

We sailed closer to Terini. As we approached the mouth of the inlet, Dareena turned to me. "You need to remain silent. You are my girlfriend. We will be holding hands. If you open your mouth, it could get ugly. I will pull you wherever you need to go. Do not leave my side."

I nodded.

Dareena talked to the men and I watched them all nod.

"How far to Rendarin?"

"Two hundred miles down the coast."

"A little far for our fine boat."

She laughed. "Yes."

We pulled into the inlet, came around a corner, and the port town of Terini was laid out in front of us. The town was about a quarter the size of Darlor, the capital of Norinia, but it was still a healthy size. There was a wharf with a large merchant shipped tied up. I saw no major military vessels. The town extended up away from the waterfront.

Dareena pointed, and we sailed slowly to a narrow beach where there were a number of small fishing boats pulled up. The boat grounded on the beach and we all got out. The men pulled the boat to shore. Dareena came over to stand by my side, grabbing my hand in a tight grip.

"Remember," she said. "Not a single word."

I nodded.

We waited on the beach. I wondered why. I looked over at Dareena and raised an eyebrow.

"The guard is coming," she said quietly, nodding. Sure enough, two men in uniform were walking along the walkway from the wharfs to our location. We waited for them.

They carried themselves like city guard anywhere. They had swords at their hips and carried truncheons. In keeping with the warm weather, they were lightly dressed. One was tall and slender. The other was somewhat shorter and stocky. They approached, and I didn't understand more than a few words, but I heard "Princess Dareena."

At that they perked up. They looked at her suspiciously, then examined me. I stared into the eyes of the one in front of me, but when he addressed me, I didn't say anything. Dareena answered for me.

The tall one then turned around and began walking briskly away.

Dareena continued arguing with the stocky one and pointing, but I had no idea where she was pointing. The stocky one shook his head and argued back. Eventually the disagreement wound down with us staying exactly where we were.

The collar liked that we were holding hands. The contact was sending tiny tendrils of pleasure through me. It was small, nothing that would have me crying out in pleasure, but it felt good. I tried to keep my emotions in check but realized it was good the travel would be over soon and I would be rid of the collar.

I was half in love with Dareena, and the idea sickened me.

We stood there for ten minutes before the tall one returned with more guards and an older man, perhaps fifty years old, bald, with sharp features. He was well dressed in civilian clothing. I gathered he was important. He stepped up to us eying us distrustfully, then walked straight to Dareena. He looked at her, looked at her again, then fell to his knee in front of her. The only word I recognized was her name.

Identity confirmed. Now it would be interesting to see how much power she held in her own country.

Dareena dropped my hand, stepped forward a half step, and helped the man to his feet again. She greeted him warmly, then stepped back and took my hand again.

The two of them talked for several minutes. At one point he looked at me again. I smiled but didn't say anything even when he addressed me. Dareena said something, drawing his attention back to her. I didn't hear my name, and no one's expression turned particularly nasty while facing me.

Eventually the man turned to the guards and spoke, gesturing. Several of the guards peeled away, disappearing into town. Dareena and the man continued to talk, Dareena doing most of the talking.

One of the guards returned from the town and stepped up to Dareena and the man. Dareena finished talking and the two turned to the guard. He spoke two sentences, and then the old man gestured towards the town. Dareena stepped forward, pulling me with her.

I tugged twice on her hand. She turned to me and I pointed back to the sailboat. Or, more exactly, my chest of clothing. Dareena tugged me towards town, but I snaked my hand out of hers and ran back to the sailboat and started untying my chest from where it sat on the boat.

Dareena spoke sharply to me, but of course I didn't understand what she was saying, so I continued to unlash my chest.

Then two of the sailors were next to me. One of them patted my hand and pointed back to Dareena, then the two of them took over unlashing my chest. I smiled and nodded, then backed off the boat and squished my way back up to Dareena. She took my hand and smiled, but the look in her eyes expressed displeasure. After that, I found myself tugged towards the town.

Dareena didn't let go of my hand after that, but she continued to talk to the old man. He led us to an inn, the sailors following behind us while the guards provided an escort. I looked back, and the two sailors were hurrying to catch up, carrying my chest between them.

Dareena, the sailors and I were all soggy and salt encrusted. The sailors were barefoot. Dareena and I both were wearing our boots, significantly much the worse for wear, and we squished as we walked. I had gotten more water in my boots while attempting to retrieve my chest, and I hoped we could dry out before walking much further. I was pretty sure I had blisters.

The man spoke, and one of the guardsmen entered the inn, returning shortly with another man I presumed to be the innkeeper. The old man spoke and the innkeeper fell to a knee in front of Dareena. She spoke and he rose to his feet again. More words went back and forth, the innkeeper smiling the entire time. Dareena turned to me, smiled, then lowered herself to her knees in front of me, reaching for one of my boots. She tugged at my foot.

I gave her the foot, and she began pulling my boot off. I almost fell over, but one of the sailors stepped up and steadied me. Dareena pulled off the boot and I put my foot down on the cobblestones of the street. I gave her the other foot, and she removed that boot. She set both boots on the ground, then stood up and looked at me pointedly, then down at her feet.

I knelt down in front of her and helped her remove her boots, then picked up both pairs of boots before standing up. One of the sailors stepped forward and took both pairs from me, and Dareena took my hand again, pulling me into the inn. We left wet footprints behind.

The innkeeper led the way and we proceeded up the stairs and to a lavish room at the back of the inn. The two sailors carried my chest behind us and set it down in the room before departing. I didn't see what became of the rest.

Dareena and the innkeeper spoke some more then he departed, leaving Dareena and I in the room together. She dropped my hand but stepped close to me so she could speak quietly in my ear.

"We'll have baths shortly. Are you all right?"

I nodded. "Water."

"It's coming. A meal after the baths."

"What will we wear?"

"Your chest is here."

"I think all that is there is my dress. I can't travel in that. And it is distinctly of Norinian design."

"Your original tunic and breeches are there, too."

"What about you?"

"The innkeeper promised something, and Nuron promised more for both of us."

"Nuron is the old man?"

"Not so old, but yes. He is the port master here. He will check to see whether the Kilda More is sailing south soon. That's the merchant ship we saw. Otherwise he'll arrange horses or a coach. Ship would be faster."

"Will the sailors tell everyone who I am?"

"No," she said. "Everyone on the Ysura Martani was hand-picked, and they all know I need to get you to Rendarin."

"They were kind at the end," I said.

"They also know you saved my life when you didn't have to, and that you built the boat when you didn't have to."

"The could feel I did it to save my own life."

"They know you believe you are going to your own execution. They are impressed with devotion to duty. They aren't going to watch you torn apart by a mob when you could be torn apart when drawn and quartered instead."

I pulled away from her.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly, chasing after me. "That was in poor taste."

"I can make jokes about it, but it's extremely cruel for you to do so."

"I know," she said. "I'm sorry."

"We are not friends. I am your prisoner, nothing more." I pulled away from her again and went to the chest, kneeling down in front of it. I opened it and was surprised that everything still looked clean and dry. I withdrew tunic, breeches, and under clothing, then closed the lid again. Then I examined the room.

There was one large, ornate bed, with a beautiful blue bedspread. At the other end of the room was a sitting arrangement with a sofa, two chairs, and a coffee table between them. The sofa looked comfortable. The chairs did not. Along one wall was a wash stand with a bowl and a pitcher, but when I looked into them, they were empty. There was a dresser and a door that led to a closet. I looked out the windows into an attractive courtyard in the back of the inn. It looked like it was set up for a few couples to have a meal and others to go for a stroll.

"This is an expensive inn," I said.

Dareena hushed me and walked over. "Someone is going to hear you. The maid is going to be along any moment."

"Sorry," I said quietly. "I won't make another mistake like that. What story are you giving about me?"

"We have a wager going that requires you to remain silent to win. You are allowed to talk only to me and only when no one else can hear."

"Unusual wager."

"You're normally such a blabbermouth, I bet you couldn't make it all the way to the capital without talking. If you make it all the way to being presented to the queen, you win." She paused. "If not, we all lose."

"I understand. And the collar?"

"Some silly custom of your family's. It's an ugly piece of jewelry, but you refuse to take it off until we're properly married."

"So we're to be married."

"You will look so darling in white."

I stared at her. "You're doing it again. I am your prisoner, not your friend."

"Of course."

We separated again. I stood at the windows, staring out at the courtyard. There was a knock, then the door opened. I ignored it. Dareena spoke to someone with a female voice, then she stepped up beside me and took my hand, speaking quietly to me in Tendarian. She began pulling me towards the door, and I grabbed my dry clothing as we went past the bed.

The maid led us to another room on the same floor. When we stepped in, I saw we were in a bath. There were two copper tubs, each filled with steaming water. A second maid was waiting. The door closed, and the two maids approached us, one to each of us. Mine took the clothing from my hands and set them aside, then she began undressing me. The other maid was undressing Dareena.

Once my clothing was off, my maid reached for the collar around my neck, but Dareena spoke sharply, startling the maid, then spoke more softly. She nodded then took my hand and led me to a shower in the corner of the room. I eyed it dubiously but stepped in.

When the maid reached for the chain, I was expecting to be deluged by frigid water, so I gritted my teeth and vowed not to make a sound. The water was cold, but not frigid. The maid doused me well, and I did what I could to rinse my hair as well.

I stepped out and Dareena stepped in behind me. She yelped at the cold water. I smiled sweetly at her then allowed my maid to draw me to one of the tubs. Holding her hand to steady myself, I stepped into the tub, then lowered myself into the water.

I moaned in pleasure but managed to avoid any words.

The maids bathed us. I let mine do whatever she wanted to me, and she was very good. She left my more personal regions for me to wash myself, but she took care of everything else. I adjusted as necessary so she could wash me. She did my hair last, and it took several cleanings.

While she was bathing me, I wondered if this was the last kindness I would ever receive.

I ignored Dareena, but from the sounds she was making, I gathered she was enjoying her bath as much as I was enjoying mine.

Once we were clean, the maids left us to soak for a while. I closed my eyes and dozed, not waking until my maid was back, touching my arm. I glanced over to see Dareena being helped out of her tub by the other maid.

I let mine help me out of the tub then stood still while she dried me. She dressed me in my under things, then pulled a chair over for me to sit in while she dried my hair with several towels. She spent quite some time brushing the snarls out as gently as she could. Then she stood me back up and finished dressing me.

I glanced over, and Dareena was being treated in the same fashion I was. The innkeeper had found clothes that fit her, more or less, although they were not as fine as mine. I was now dressed in the clothing I had been wearing when I had been kidnapped. It wasn't pressed and had been left folded in the chest for several days, but the clothes were clean and dry and of the quality I typically wore when out on the town for an evening.

Dareena's clothing was more in keeping with a member of the merchant class or an innkeeper's daughter. But it fit and was pressed, so it was a toss up which of us was better dressed.

One of the maids collected our old clothes and spirited them away. The other led us back to our room. Both Dareena and I were barefoot. As soon as we got to the room, I went to my chest. There were two pair of fine dress shoes, which of course I couldn't wear, but there was also a pair of low boots. I sat down and pulled them on.

Dareena talked to the maid for a moment longer then closed the door on her then she crossed the room to me. "So, are you planning on executing me via dehydration?"

She smiled and spoke quietly. "The maid is finding a pair of shoes for me, then we will go down for a meal. You may have all the water you want, or wine if you prefer."

"Water."

She nodded.

I stood up and went to the window, staring outside.

It didn't take long for everything to catch up to me. I tried counting back the days to my last happy moment. It was the night I had been kidnapped. I had met with friends. We had a nice dinner and exchanged gossip until late. One of my friends announced her parents were trying to talk her into a marriage, but she wasn't sure she cared for the man they had chosen. Still, she seemed happy to talk about it, and I'd been happy for her.

Then I'd been kidnapped, and my world had crashed around me.

I thought again of how my sister had betrayed me, and I felt the tears begin to slide down my cheeks.

I ignored the bustle at the door.

Dareena walked up behind me and took my arm, trying to pull me after her. I tugged away from her, staring out the window. She took my arm and pulled again, this time using enough force I was turned to face her. She saw the tears and her smile faltered. "Ohh," she said.

She looked over her shoulder and said something to the maid, and the girl disappeared, closing the door.

Dareena tried to pull me into a hug, but I pushed her away. She was nearly the last person on the planet I wanted comfort from. She looked hurt by it.

"Don't look at me like that," I said quietly, my voice catching. "This is your fault as much as my sister's. You are not my friend, and you are not forgiven."

I turned back to the window, staring outside for another minute, then dried my tears and pulled myself erect. I turned to face her. "Let's go, I guess."

She nodded and took my hand. I pulled away from her. "Stop it," I hissed. "Every time you touch me the collar gives me little waves of pleasure. I don't want them. I will follow like a docile little prisoner."

She nodded and led the way from the room, I followed.

She led the way downstairs. The innkeeper met us and led us to a table. I grabbed Dareena's arm and pointed to the back of the inn. I would have liked to sit outside. She ignored me and sat at the table the innkeeper had provided.

Bitch.

I sat down opposite her.

Dareena exchanged words with the innkeeper. He stepped away, smiling, and a serving maid stopped by with goblets and poured water for us. I drank mine immediately and held it out to her. She refilled it with a smile then waited to see if I would consume a second glass. I drank part of it and set it on the table. She topped mine off and refilled Dareena's before stepping away.

Dareena chattered at me, but of course I didn't understand a word, so I gave her a dirty look and ignored her. Dareena continued to chatter away as if I understood what she was saying.

I hoped she choked on her food.

I tried to think of something productive, something that wouldn't reduce me to tears again. I couldn't think of a single thing. So I looked down at the table and counted the rings of the wood grain.

Food came. It was some sort of stew, and there was a loaf of bread. I stared at it, and a lump formed in my throat.

I had a serious case of self-pity going and no idea how to break out of it.

I managed to eat some of the food, choking it down past the lump in my throat. Dareena tried several times to get my attention, but I stared at my plate, ignoring her and everything else around me as best I could.

Once I had eaten some of the food, my body relaxed. I was starving. We hadn't had any food that day. I drank a lot of water, and the serving maid stopped past several times to refill my glass.

I finished the food, wiping the last of the juices with a bit of bread, then stared into my mug of water.

Dareena's tone was gentle, but I was disappointed she hadn't choked on her food.

I briefly toyed with the idea of standing up and loudly proclaiming who I was. I wondered how quickly the mob would kill me. I looked around the room, judging who was there. In a corner was a table of four men who were clearly soldiers. Another table held a group of women. One table held a young couple. Another held a couple of merchant men. Sitting alone at the bar were several rough-looking men of indeterminate origin.

Dareena must have figured out what I was contemplating. She spoke very low but said in Norinian, "It might bring you peace, but it won't bring peace."

I looked at her and nodded once.

I realized my only choice was to accept whatever was to happen. I had no control over matters. It wasn't my nature to surrender in that fashion, and I wondered if that was the worst, knowing I had absolutely no control over the situation, that nothing I did mattered.

I hadn't noticed him approach, but the old man, the port master Nuron, pulled up a chair and sat down at our table. He spoke in an animated fashion with Dareena. She smiled broadly and looked excited and exceedingly pleased. She talked to me, clearly trying to get me to show some excitement at whatever news Nuron had brought, but I was sure anything she found as good news was more bad news for me. I smiled wanly but kept my thoughts to myself.

Nuron and Dareena talked for a few more minutes, then he rose from his seat and departed. I watched him go.

I went back to counting the wood grain of the table in front of us. Dareena talked excitedly. I gave her a look that tried to say, "Whatever."

She got up and reached for me. I rose to my feet and stepped away from her, then followed along behind her as she led the way back to our room. Once we were there, I stepped past her to the wash stand. There was water now. I washed up from dinner.

Dareena stepped up to me and said quietly, "The Kilda More wasn't scheduled to leave for several days, but her captain has agreed to leave tonight. He has been impressed with the urgency of my return to Rendarin. Nuron is sending someone to collect your chest. He is sending clothes and fresh footware to us on the ship."

I looked around. My boots were gone. "My boots? The clothes we were wearing?"

"They're in the laundry. I'll try to get them sent to the ship before we sail." She paused. "We'll be in Rendarin by this time tomorrow."

"Excellent, then my execution can by done by midnight tomorrow."

I turned away from her.

"I told you," she said. "There will be a fair trial."

"That should take at least ten minutes."

"They will need to assemble the witnesses. Send out notices. I will need time to build a defense. The trial won't begin for several weeks and will undoubtedly last several weeks."

I turned and stared at her. "Why? The verdict is predetermined. Why do you need this sham?"

"It's not a sham."

"Dragging it out is more cruelty. We both know what is going to happen. Why do you continue to act as if it's anything but what it is?"

"I vowed a fair trial."

"There is no way I can possibly receive a fair trial within the borders of Tendaria. It is not humanly possible."

I turned away from her again.

"It will be as fair as we can make it, then."

"Why?"

"Because you deserve justice."

I turned back to face her. "Do you really believe that is what is going to happen?"

"Of course."

"You must be the most naive woman I have ever met. I am not going to receive justice. I am going to receive vengeance, and anyone who pretends this is anything different is lying to herself. I suppose it makes you feel better. You'll be able to sleep at night. I received justice. It was just to kidnap me. It was just to engage in treachery to bring me here. It was just to stage a mock trial. It was just to execute me. I was twenty-three years old doing the best I could, and in the four years since, not one single person has told me what I should have done differently. They only have told me what I shouldn't have done."

I turned my back on her. "Believe what you will. This is not justice, and you will never convince me it is. It is treachery and vengeance. The sooner you admit that to yourself, the sooner it can all be over."

After that I refused to respond to her but stood staring out the window into the courtyard below. She tried talking to me, but I shrugged her off, and eventually she gave up.

We waited about an hour before there was a knock at the door. I ignored it and the resulting bustle. Then Dareena was at my shoulder and said very quietly, "Princess, it is time to leave."

I turned around and followed her obediently.

Rendarin

I didn't speak a single word during the voyage. It took all my concentration to ignore Dareena's excitement. She was coming home victorious, her prisoner in tow, and would be the architect of peace. She had a right to be so happy, but it was at my expense, and I couldn't be happy with her.

The ship's captain had given us his cabin for the voyage, and that is where I spent the entire trip. I didn't see as we left Terini and I didn't see as we entered Rendarin. But I felt as the ship pulled up next to the wharf, and I heard the sounds one would hear in any port city in the world.

I ignored all of it, but I turned to my chest and pulled out my dress. I looked through the chest and found everything else I would need. There was a small mirror, so I did my makeup and adjusted my hair. It was pitiful by court standards, but I had always had maids when I needed them.

Then I stepped out of my clothes and struggled with the dress. I didn't shrug off Dareena's help. She got me into the dress and did up the laces for me. Then she retrieved shoes for me and helped me into them.

I examined myself in the mirror. I looked terrible, but I could stand tall, as I was doing the best anyone else would under similar circumstances. I turned to Dareena.

"You owe me."

"Yes."

"Will you give me the dignity of removing the collar?"

She looked away.

"I saved your life. I could have let you drown. You couldn't have made the boat without my help. I cooperated, knowing what is to happen to me. You owe me."

"I'm sorry. I can't."

"What am I possibly going to do? The amulet suppressed my magic. I have no weapons. I'm wearing a dress and shoes that let me move no faster than a slow walk. You could use your magic to bind the shoes in place. I couldn't get three steps without you catching me."

"There are factions that do not want peace. You need to arrive as my prisoner. The collar represents that. The factions may be appeased seeing you in a slave collar. I am sorry."

"Yes, your show must go on."

I turned away from her and didn't address her again.

A short while later there was a knock on the cabin door, then it opened. Dareena exchanged words with the ship's captain, then she walked up to me and said quietly, "It is time to go."

The captain was staring at me. I wasn't wearing a simple dress. I was wearing what was clearly a court dress, done in the Norinian style. I wasn't wearing any jewelry, but as much as I could, I carried myself as a princess. I stopped and looked at him.

"Please don't," Dareena said to me.

She had gotten all the favors from me she was getting, and she hadn't offered any in return. I turned back to the captain.

"Captain," I said loudly and clearly in Norinian. "I am Her Royal Highness, Princess Meorie of Norinia, heir to Queen Linara, first in line for the throne of Norinia. Thank you kindly for your hospitality."

Then I stepped past him while Dareena swore in Tendarian. She exchanged more words with the captain. I stepped down the passageway and onto the deck of the ship, waiting for her.

Dareena caught up to me and hissed, "That was foolish. You will speak to no one until we are before the queen."

I turned to her and clearly mouthed the word, "Bitch." But I followed docilely as she led the way from the ship. There was a small carriage waiting for us.

"Get in," she said into my ear. I climbed into the carriage then made a point of being in her way when she tried to climb in after me. Yes, it was petty, but what else did I have remaining to me?

She squeezed into the carriage and said something out the window, and then we were rolling forward.

I didn't bother looking out the windows. I was working on becoming dead inside. It wasn't working, but I was trying. I stared straight ahead, somewhere over Dareena's shoulder as she sat on the seat opposite me. She shifted so our legs were touching, but I shifted away. She shifted again, watching me. I mouthed the word "Bitch" again and shifted away. Soon I found myself tight in the corner of the carriage trying to escape her touch. All she accomplished was letting me know she could be far more petty than I was.

"Meorie," she said. "I'm trying to give you what comfort I can. I know my touch feels good to you."

I glared at her and shoved her legs away from me.

She took the hint and left me alone.

The streets of Rendarin must have curved, as our route to the palace was not straight.

"Mother knows I have arrived," Dareena said. "No one knows that you are with me. We will go straight to court and present ourselves. There may be a lot of people there, if she was already holding court over some issue or another, or it may be whoever can be assembled quickly."

I heard what she was saying but gave no indication.

"When we get out, you will follow immediately behind me. You will keep your head down and address no one until we are before the queen. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

After several more minutes, the carriage pulled to a stop. Dareena looked out the window and said, "We're here. Meorie, I am sorry."

She hadn't given me permission to speak, so I didn't respond. She was lying anyway.

She stepped out of the carriage, then held the door for me. I followed her, then kept my head down as she had ordered. I didn't get much view of the palace, but it was obviously quite opulent. It had that in common with the palace in Darlor.

She turned and I obediently followed on her heels. We passed through into the palace, Dareena announcing herself and waiting for the guards to open the doors. We collected an honor guard of four guardsmen, two in front, two behind.  Dareena led me into the palace until we came to an ornate set of doors. She stopped in front of it, and the guards opened the doors.

We stepped into the court room. I glanced ahead and saw a woman sitting on a throne at the other end of the room. I decided that was Dareena's mother, the queen. I also decided that we were now before the queen, which meant the end of the orders I had received. Other than the longstanding orders to make no attempt to escape, I was under no particular compulsion.

I looked around. The room was full. There was clearly some sort of proceedings going on, with numerous people in court attire between us and the queen. Dareena stopped at the back of the room and waited. For what, I didn't know.

I decided I didn't care, either. She wasn't paying attention to me, so sure she was I would follow docilely. I took a step to the side, then another. Then I began humming loudly enough to drown out anything she might say, and I began striding through the crowd, stepping past and around the people between me and the queen.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Dareena's surprise, and she said something, but she'd said it quietly, and I couldn't hear her. I moved as quickly as my shoes and the dress would allow, putting more distance between me and the woman who could stop me.

Some of the people I passed seemed annoyed, but they took a look at my clothing, far finer than the clothes they were wearing. They saw the look of determination in my face, and they left me be. A few glanced over their shoulders and stepped aside, allowing me to pass.

I continued to hum, hoping to drown out any orders Dareena was casting my way. I was sure she must be saying something, but if I couldn't hear her, I couldn't be forced to comply.

I arrived at the front of the audience. Before me were several people kneeling to the queen. Facing me on the dias was the queen herself. With her were two men who looked like they might be ministers. There were guards all over the room, but none was particularly close to me.

The queen hadn't noticed my passage through the room but then I stepped forward, assuming as regal a bearing as I could, and stepped around the people kneeling on the floor. I didn't kneel.

The queen stared at me in shock. The room behind me grew abuzz, which only helped to further drown out Dareena's commands.

The queen said something curtly to me. Of course, it was in Tendarian, and I didn't understand a word.

I opened my mouth and raised my voice in the way I had long been trained. "I am Her Royal Highness, Princess Meorie, heir to Queen Linara, first in line to the throne of Norinia. I understand you wished to speak with me. Something about a trial."

I had presented myself to the palace for my trial, satisfying the requirements of the collar. I heard it click, and I pulled it from my neck. Dareena came out of the crowd behind me, and I threw the collar at her feet.

The room had become silent at hearing my Norinian voice, and they surely must have recognized my name. Then the roar started.

Dareena arrived at my side and bent down to kneel to her mother.

"You need to kneel!" she hissed at me. "Kneel!"

"You no longer command me," I said to her, then ignored her continued orders and entreaties to kneel.

The room was roaring with noise, but not a single person approached me. Queen Fridara raised her voice loudly, saying a single word, and the room immediately fell silent with just a small echo from the rafters for a brief moment.

Then, looking straight at me, she said another word. I didn't know what it was, but just looked at her calmly, my head held high.

"She ordered you to kneel," Dareena said from her kneeling position at my side.

"She isn't my queen," I said loudly enough for the people immediately around me to hear. "She is the sworn enemy of my country. I do not accept her orders nor offer her the allegiance implied by kneeling."

The queen reacted, telling me she spoke Norinian. That's what I really wanted to know. Then she schooled her features.

I didn't see any gestures from anyone on the dias, but from the corner of my eye, I saw a guard step up behind me. I was expecting it, but it still hurt when he thrust the butt of the spear rudely into my back. I sprawled to the floor, yelping. Then, the tip of his spear in my back, I slowly climbed to my feet and smiled at the queen.

The guard hit me again, and I sprawled. This time, I felt the spear point draw blood from my back as I stood back up.

"Just kneel!" Dareena said.

The guard waited a moment then hit me again. Each time I cried out, but each time I stood back up.

The fourth time, two guards stepped forward and forcibly moved me into a kneeling position. They were strong and rough, and one of them clouted me to the side of the head before grabbing my arms.

"I see you know how to treat a princess in Tendaria," I said to the queen. I received another hit from the guard. "Nice to meet you, too," I told her. I was hit again. "This is the treatment I told your daughter I would receive." I was hit hard enough to sag in the arms of the men holding me. I hung there for a moment, then straightened up and looked directly at the queen. I got hit for it. I looked up, got hit. Before I looked up the next time, I said, "Do your men enjoy hitting women?" Then I looked up again and got hit.

I decided I'd made my point, at least for now. I hung limply and made the men support me. When one of them grew lax, I pulled my arm from his hold and slammed my elbow into his knee as hard as I could.

That earned me a solid beating that went on for a while and knocked the remaining fight out of me.

I ignored the conversation between Fridara and Dareena. It was in Tendarian, so I wouldn't have understood anyway. I hung limply from the guard's arms.

The discussion went on for a while, then another guard strode forward carrying shackles. My wrists were shackled behind my back and I was pulled rudely to my feet, then shackles were attached to my ankles. Dareena was watching all of this, and I looked at her. "This is your justice," I told her. "This is your proper treatment. Isn't it pretty?"

I was dragged away.

It turns out they had a dungeon. I expected nothing less. I didn't see anything that looked like a torture room. I was dragged to a cell with stone walls and floor and a heavy door in the doorway. They thrust me into the room, and I sprawled on the floor. The door was slammed closed.

They hadn't removed my shackles.

There was no light, just a tiny glimmer from the bottom of the door. I crawled until I encountered the wall, then levered myself into an uncomfortable sitting position. I wondered how long I would have to wait like that.

I think I slept. I wasn't sure. I don't know how long I was there, but it didn't feel like the next day, so I presumed several hours only. There was noise at the door, then it opened. Dareena appeared in the doorway, holding a lantern. She stepped in and looked down at me.

"I'm sorry."

I didn't respond, but I rolled around so she could see my hands were still shackled.

She swore.

"Were you honestly expecting me to be treated differently?"

"You could have behaved."

"Do you honestly think that would have made any significant difference? Your country needs someone to punish. That someone is going to be me. And everyone who can is going to take their opportunity, starting with the guards and ending with the executioner. Your mother will be in the middle somewhere. The only thing that isn't sure is whether there is a torturer involved at any point."

"You don't have to be so proud," she said.

"Ah yes, I could grovel." I paused. "I suspect I will eventually. Everyone breaks." I sighed. "What do you want? Come to gloat?"

"I came to see if you were all right."

I looked around the room with the light from her lantern. "Nice quarters. Very fitting. The floor is doing wonders for my fashionable appearance."

"Mother has offered more appropriate quarters if you agree to kneel to her."

"Tell me, did you kneel to my sister?"

"Briefly once."

"I see. Did you look her in the eye?"

"Yes."

"Did the guards repeatedly hit you for it?" She didn't respond. "What do you think would have happened if you hadn't knelt? Would you have been given accommodations such as these?"

"I am trying to help you."

"If you want to help me, you will do everything you can to bring this trial to a speedy start and a speedy finish followed by a speedy, clean execution. However, I suspect the entire country is ecstatic to have me suffer for a while first."

She turned around and stood there. I didn't want her to leave, but I didn't want her to stay, either.

"Why are you being so stubborn?" she asked.

"Am I supposed to make it easy for you to put a pretty face on all of it?"

She didn't say anything but started to step out the door. My heart broke.

"Dareena."

She turned around.

"I'm scared."

She walked back in and knelt in front of me. "I thought you weren't afraid to die."

"I'm not," I said. I looked around. "How long before I go mad in here?"

"What?"

"There are rats. And other things. I don't deal well with dark places. I don't deal well with not knowing. How long before I'm mad? If you want to help me, please put an end to this as quickly as you can. I don't want to go mad."

I started to cry, then I got mad and glared at her. "This is your justice. This is what your treachery has brought me to. My sister's treachery. My uncle's. You all need a scapegoat. Good night. Have a nice meal and a comfortable bed."

She stood up and walked away, breaking my heart again.

"Dareena. The worst part is, I love you. Can you believe it? I love you. How sick is that?"

"I am sorry," she said. The door closed behind her, leaving me in the dark.

Propped in the corner of the cold cell, I still slept. I woke on and off, growing increasingly stiff from my position and the cold.

I cried a lot, which I hated, as it increased the pounding headache.

I woke and realized I really needed to relieve myself, but I was still dressed in a dress I couldn't take off without help. I tried very hard to suppress my needs. I slept.

Each time I woke, the need was greater. I managed not to embarrass myself.

Then I awoke to noise at the door. I was hoping it was Dareena, but it was the guards. They stood in the doorway, laughing at me. Then one of them stepped forward with a tray of food and a mug. They set both down on the floor near the door to the cell.

There were two rats perched on the tray, and the food was crawling. They held a lantern near the food to make sure I got a good look, then closed the door to the cell.

I decided that was probably breakfast.

The rats finished their meal, then I heard their feet on the floor as they explored the room. When I felt one come close to me, I kicked out at it, but it was feeble. Still, they left me alone. I didn't know where the bugs went, but I didn't feel any crawling on me.

Sometime during what I presumed was the day, my bladder decided it had lasted as long as it was going to last, and I soiled myself. One more indignity to thank my sister for.

I dozed, propped in the corner of the room. I dreamed. I dreamed when I was young, and my mother was still alive. Then she turned to me and told me how ashamed she was of me.

I woke sobbing.

I cried myself back to sleep and dreamt of a day four years ago, of all the bodies, and then the bodies climbed to their feet and all pointed to me. I was familiar with that dream. It barely shook me up anymore. Still, I woke with my heart pounding.

I dozed, had horrible dreams, and woke.

There was noise at the door. It opened, and the guards were there. New guards. They cleared the remnants of breakfast and set down another tray. No rats this time, but instead there was a large pile of feces on the plate. Again, they made sure I got a good look before they closed the door.

I decided that was dinner. My first full day experiencing the wonderful hospitality Tendaria had to offer a princess of Norinia.

* * *

At some point during the night, my bowels relaxed, and I soiled myself further.

* * *

The next day went much the same as the first.

* * *

As did the day after that.

* * *

Sometime after my breakfast of rats and bugs, the door opened. I didn't even react. Then I heard Dareena's scream.

I looked up and she was dancing away from the rats and bugs.

I hadn't had any food or water in three days. I was probably delirious. I laughed watching her dance. It was a very hoarse laugh.

Dareena began screaming at someone, presumably the guards, as one of them came and cleared the plate away. The rats jumped off and scampered into the cell. The guard laughed and walked away.

Dareena stepped into the room and began screaming again. The guards came back, and she was pointing at my family of pet rats over in the corner opposite me. The guards laughed and disappeared, but then they came back with a broom each and chased the rats out of the room, laughing at their game.

I watched Dareena shudder then she stepped into the cell, looking around for more rats. She approached me.

"You don't want to get too close," I told her. "I'm sure I'm crawling with bugs."

Then I giggled uncontrollably.

"I love your hospitality. Your mother offers every kindness."

I giggled.

"Meorie, look at me," Dareena ordered.

"Not your slave anymore," I said. "How long can someone go without water? Will I die before the trial?"

"What?"

Then I looked at her.

"They said they were giving you food and water."

"You saw my breakfast. Dinner has been feces. Human, I believe. A mug of something has been left by the door, but I can't exactly pick it up, and it's probably piss anyway. I haven't bothered to check."

"Is that why it stinks in here?"

"I haven't exactly been taken to the facilities, and pride and stubbornness only lasted so long. I'm sorry to offend your sensibilities."

I giggled again.

"If you knelt to mother, you could have proper accommodations."

I sighed. "Your mother undoubtedly ordered those soldiers to break me. It's working, by the way, but I'm hoping to be delirious from lack of water first. There is no way she has earned my respect. You can carry me and toss me at her feet, but I will not kneel willingly." I paused. "I know I'll break eventually. Has it been three days?"

"Yes."

"Well, I won't make it another three days. You can tell her it's working. The two of you can laugh about it."

"Mother wouldn't have ordered this."

"Go ask her. Watch carefully to see if she lies to you. Did you order the soldiers to unshackle my arms when you were here last?"

"Yes."

"And yet they didn't. Who outranks you?"

"She wouldn't do this."

"You are so naive."

"I'll get you some water."

"No. Please. Maybe I can die from lack of water, or at least become so delirious I won't know what is happening to me."

"I will fix this," she promised me.

"Good luck with that."

She stood up and walked to the door.

"Dareena?"

She turned around.

"Are you part of my torture?"

"No."

"Are you honestly trying to be a friend?"

"Yes."

"Then do me a favor. Make sure my sister knows this is how I was treated. Make sure she knows that I place the blame entirely on her."

"The peace."

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Go away. Go gloat with your mother."

* * *

Dareena returned a few hours later. I knew it was the same day as I hadn't had my feces dinner yet. She stepped into the cell carrying a lantern and set it down, then she walked over to me and knelt down. She had a mug with her. She lifted it to my lips. I turned away.

"No!"

She clasped the back of my head and forced some of the water into my mouth. I struggled weakly with her, but once she'd gotten a little water in me, I drank more of it docilely, greedily.

Finally she pulled the mug away.

"Why? Why would you do that?"

"I talked to my mother."

Then she gave me more water, and I drank it.

"She confirmed everything you said about your treatment. She also explained why."

"I could have told you why!"

"You need to kneel to her, and delirium isn't an option."

"It's all part of the show."

"Yes."

"I'm not playing."

"You will."

She gave me more water.

"I'm going to piss it back out."

"I know."

She gave me the rest of the water.

"Well, you can rest proud as you play your part in my continuing degradation. Congratulations."

"Mother gave me a choice. She told me I could give you water nicely, or I could let the guards do it. You wouldn't have liked their methods."

I didn't say anything.

"It's going to get worse, Meorie. Please, give her what she wants. Kneel to her."

"She doesn't deserve my show of respect. Are you starting to realize that? She doesn't deserve it. I may break eventually, but when I do, I'll know I held out as long as I could. No one who treats another human being like this deserves an ounce of respect."

"Please, Meorie."

"Dareena, don't you get it? She'll let me kneel, then she'll tell me I must also grovel. And then when I grovel, she'll come up with another stipulation. And another. And another. And I'll still end up back down here."

"She promised me she would treat you as you deserve if you kneel to her."

"Did you ask her for a definition of how she felt I deserved to be treated?"

Dareena didn't respond.

"Tell me, is this the justice you expected? Is this honor? Is this how I should be treated? Or is it in keeping with the treachery that got me here in the first place? Proud of yourself? You promised I wouldn't be mistreated. What happened to your promise?"

Dareena got up and walked to the door. "Please kneel to her, Meorie."

"Go ask her what she means by treating me like I deserve then come back and tell me things will improve."

She left.

The guards didn't close my door. As soon as Dareena was gone, several of them filed into the room. Then pulled the front of their pants open and began what seemed like a countdown. As they began pissing on me, I did the best to avert my face.

Their aim was impeccable.

Before they left, they tossed several rats into the room with me, laughing, then closed the door.

I ignored the rats.

* * *

Dareena came back after breakfast the next day. She had water for me. She forced me to drink it.

"You will break," she said.

"Did you ask your mother?"

She didn't answer right away.

"That's what I thought. Are you fully on board with her plan, or is she getting you there in pieces?"

She didn't answer.

"Do you still believe there will be justice?"

"No," she said quietly.

I didn't respond. Dareena started to get up. "Please stay for a minute," I asked her kindly. She knelt back down.

"I am sorry," she said. "I believed in this."

"Is the peace real?"

"I don't know anymore."

"What does she really want?"

Dareena took a big breath. "For you to kneel. And grovel. And agree to wear the collar."

"Bound to her?"

"To me. I am to use it to keep you in line."

"More groveling? Will you make me say things I don't believe?"

"No, I will make you kneel and I will make you remain silent when you should remain silent."

"What else?"

"Not escape."

"What else?"

"I am to accelerate the process of you falling in love with me."

She looked away.

"What would my quarters be?"

"With me." She paused. "I like girls. She's offering you to me."

"Would you force me?"

"No, but the collar will make you want me."

"When you first put it on me, did you know all this?"

"No."

She started to get up.

"Dareena, please don't go."

She looked down at me. "Why? You aren't going to agree."

"Please, a few more questions."

She knelt back down. "What?"

"Would you make me lie?"

"No."

"At the trial, will you use the collar to keep me silent?"

"Yes."

"Will you promise me something? On the last day, when your mother sentences me to die, will you let me speak?"

She looked at me sharply then came to a conclusion. "Would you believe me if I said 'yes'?"

"I don't know, but if you said 'yes' and then don't do it, at least you will know you betrayed me again at the end. It's about the best I'm going to get."

"Yes, on that day, I won't compel your silence."

"One more question." I paused. "Do you believe this is about justice, or vengeance?"

"Vengeance. You were right all along about everything."

"Tell your mother she has won."

Dareena looked at me, then reached out and caressed my face. "She hasn't won, Meorie. You and I know the truth. She isn't worthy of respect."

She stood up and walked to the door. "I will be back as soon as I can."

"Dareena, if you tell her too much-"

"I won't."

"Dareena."

She turned around.

"Your mother is between a rock and a hard place. I don't know if she is taking joy from this. She may be doing what she feels is necessary, perhaps to secure her own throne, perhaps to secure peace. This may be petty cruelty on her part, but it may be what she feels is required. It may even be the peace is real. I will never know, but you will."

She turned around, and there were tears in her eyes.

"You knew this all along?"

"Yes."

"You knew this when you saved my life."

"Yes."

"And when you built the boat."

"Yes."

"And when you didn't kill all of us when you could."

"There has been enough killing. Maybe this will bring peace. I don't believe so, but nothing else I can do will bring peace. Maybe this will."

"I didn't listen."

"You wanted to believe in hope. I don't blame you for that."

"I am sorry." And then she was gone, and the door closed behind her.

The Collar

Dareena did not return again that day. I was sad about that, but not necessarily surprised.

The guards treated me to another shower when they brought dinner. I was actually surprised they hadn't raped me yet. Thank the gods for small favors, I guess. I'm sure that was on the plate eventually, or would have been if I hadn't capitulated. We would see.

I wondered whether the queen was changing her agreement with Dareena.

I slept, surrounded by my nightmares. Breakfast came along with another shower. Some time after that, Dareena came.

"I'm sorry," she said when she entered the cell. "Mother wanted to be sure you understood the situation."

"Did you tell her I understood the situation as soon as I knew I'd been kidnapped by Tendaria?"

"No. I thought it was best to keep our secrets."

I nodded. "Did she change the agreement?"

"No, actually." Dareena paused. "The peace might be real."

"Did she tell you how I am to die?"

Dareena looked away.

"Please, how bad is it?"

"It will be humane. That's all I want to say. Please don't ask further."

I thought about it. "All right. I won't ask again. Will you see to it that it's humane?"

There were tears in her eyes when she looked at me, and she nodded.

We stared at each other for a moment. "Now what?" I asked.

"The guards will clean you up."

"And rape me?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

She sighed. "No." She paused. "I will stay with you. They will clean you up. You will be dressed very simply. You will be shackled and brought to court. There will be a very large number of people. You will follow me, and you will kneel when I tell you to kneel. I will step away, and then you will beg the queen to give you to me."

"Does she have words she wants to hear?"

"If she does, she hasn't indicated to me what they are. Unless she changes her mind, she will tell me to collar you. The collar is permanent."

I sighed. "Justice in Tendaria."

Dareena looked away.

"Will you treat me well?"

"As well as I am allowed. Publicly I will need to abuse you."

I sighed. "We may as well get this over with. I am expecting to be raped. I am expecting your mother to change the terms of this latest agreement. I am expecting nothing but the worst. I haven't deciding how much of it I expect from you yet. I can't tell if you're a really good actress, or if you're being honest with me."

"I am being honest."

"If so, then maybe there is still hope."

She stood up and called to the guards. Two of them came in. Dareena stepped aside, and they walked over to me. Their distaste was clear. They grabbed me by the arms and yanked me to my feet, banging my head against the wall once in the process.

I was dragged out of the room and down the hall, Dareena following behind me.

I was crying.

They dragged me into another room. Two of them held me up while another approached me with a knife. He used the knife to slice my clothes from my body, leaving me wearing only the amulet and my shackles. I stood in front of them in all my nakedness. The men were grinning.

Dareena said something to them. Then she told me, "I reminded them I will be queen one day."

I looked at her. "Thank you."

The dragged me to the corner of the room. Two of them held me in place, and suddenly I was being flushed by frigid water. The men laughed at my obvious discomfort. Then one of them dumped soap over my head. It stank of lye and stung my eyes. Two of them approached with rough brushes and began scrubbing my body fiercely.

Though all of it, I cried, but I didn't say a word. It was nothing but what I had expected.

One of the men thrust his hand between my legs. Dareena yelled at him and he stepped away. She walked up to me and said quietly, "I am sorry. I must wash you."

"I understand," I said through the tears.

She reached down and washed me where the man's hand had been. She was gentle about it. When she was done, she stepped away, and then I was being flushed with the frigid water again. They let the water run for a long time. I was shivering uncontrollably by the time they were done.

They didn't dry me. One approached with a rough cotton shift. It was sleeveless and had buttons up the front. They could put it on me without removing my shackles. Finally they presented me for Dareena's inspection.

She turned around and led the way from the room and up into the main part of the palace, two guards dragging me by my arms. We reached a door and stopped. Dareena turned to me.

"Are you being honest with me?" I asked her.

"Yes."

"Then I will show you what honor really is."

The door opened. Dareena turned around and stepped through. The guards released me, and I shuffled slowly after her. She set a pace I could follow in my shackles.

We had entered the court room via a side door. There had been people in the way, but they parted for Dareena. She led me slowly to the center of the room, then turned right to face the queen. We stepped forward to just in front of the dais. Dareena knelt, and I fell on my face trying to kneel in the shackles.

It hurt.

The court was silent.

"You have to kneel," Dareena said looking over at me from her own kneeling position.

I struggled to rise to a kneel. It was difficult, but eventually I achieved it, kneeling on both knees instead of one like Dareena was. I kept my head bowed.

"Do I beg now?" I asked as quietly as I could.

"Not yet."

The queen descended from the dais and stood in front of me. I could see her feet in front of me. I stared at them.

She said something, loudly enough for the entire court to hear. It was in Tendarian, so I didn't understand. Then she said something much more quietly, and Dareena spoke to me.

"She asks why you have begged to see her. You should apologize for your behavior."

So I did. "Your Majesty, I wished to beg your forgiveness for my behavior the last time I was in your court. It was inappropriate, rude, and didn't offer the sort of respect you so richly deserve. I am so, so very sorry."

The queen didn't respond, so I lowered myself slowly to the floor and kissed her feet. The audience made a noise, then stopped suddenly. The queen allowed my kisses for a moment then stepped back a half step.

There was silence for a moment, then she spoke again, loudly.

"She says you are forgiven," Dareena said quietly. "She asks if there is anything else you wish before you are returned to your quarters."

"Queen Fridara," I said. "I beg of you, give me to your daughter. Let my service to her be my penance for my behavior, and for the troubles I have put you all through. Please, give me to Princess Dareena, I beg of you."

The crowd began to murmur. Clearly many of them understood my words. Then the noise stopped suddenly.

The queen spoke for a while. No one translated, but when she was done, Dareena said quietly, "She has agreed. You need to kneel again."

I slowly pulled myself back to a kneeling position. Beside me, Dareena rose to her feet and stepped in front of me. I felt her wrap the collar around my neck. She put her lips near my ear and said, "I am being honest with you." Then she straightened up. "Repeat these words. I bind myself to Princess Dareena from now until the end of my days."

I repeated the words, and the collar's familiar magic began sweeping through me.

The queen spoke again, quietly, but I didn't understand it. Dareena responded, and it sounded like a question. The queen spoke just two words, and they were clearly an order.

Dareena took a deep breath, then she told me, "Meorie, break your shackles."

"What?"

"Do it. Now."

I struggled to break the shackles, I really did. The collar gave me an opportunity, then it began to punishing me for failing to follow Dareena's order. I continued to struggle, but soon the punishment grew and grew, and I was writhing on the floor, screaming and begging for it to stop.

The pain kept going and going, and I screamed until I was hoarse, begging and screaming. No one else in the room spoke, and I was too dazed from the pain to look at anyone.

Then the queen spoke one word, and Dareena was instantly kneeling beside me. "You are forgiven," she said several times. "You don't need to break the shackles. You are forgiven."

The pain receded slowly. I continued to lie on the floor, my arms still shackled behind my back, panting and moaning.

And then the room broke into applause.

I looked up at Dareena, kneeling over me, and she had the grace to look embarrassed. "There is your justice," I said very quietly.

She closed her eyes for a moment then opened them, looking at me.

The queen spoke. Dareena stood up, knelt once more briefly, then two guards stepped forward and dragged me first to a kneeling position, then to my feet. Dareena led the way, and the guards dragged me after her.

Dareena led us through the palace. I was lost immediately, and we moved too quickly for me to walk in the shackles, so I was dragged. We ascended a set of stairs and followed another corridor before we came to a set of double doors. Dareena opened the door and stepped inside, the guards dragging me after her.

She spoke to the guards, who set me on my feet.

Dareena turned to me. "They will remove your shackles in a moment. Meorie, you will make no attempt to escape. You will make no attempt to harm yourself or anyone else. You will kneel when in the presence of the queen unless she gives you permission otherwise. You will kneel when I enter the room. You will play none of your games. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

Then she spoke again to the guards, and they removed my shackles. One of them hit the back of my head with his elbow before walking away. The guards left, closing the door behind me. I stood in front of Dareena, studying her.

"I am sorry. She ordered me to punish you. I suspect she will do so again in the future."

I looked away. "When is my execution?"

"I don't know. They still need to stage a trial. The date hasn't been set."

"What else does your mother want?"

"She knows you aren't beaten yet. She is counting on me to do it."

"She has so much hate for me." I turned around. "What are you supposed to do?"

"Make you love me."

I started to cry. Again. "Will you do me a favor?"

"I will try."

"Will you lie to me and try to convince me you love me, too?"

And then I fell to my knees in front of her, clasping her and sobbing.

She began caressing my hair while I clutched at her. It felt so good and so soothing. I leaned my head into her touch, knowing this wasn't going to take her long. Then she reached down and lifted my chin to face her. "Meorie, it won't be a lie. You are the bravest woman I have ever known, and you don't deserve any of this. I will do everything I can to ease this for you, and I will love you forever."

I started sobbing again, but she began caressing me with both hands, soothing me.

"I love you," she said to me, petting me, and the pleasure it sent through me was intense. I buried my face in her and let her pet me.

"Don't stop," I said. "Don't stop, just don't stop."

She continued to pet me like that, while I was on my knees, clutching her. Finally though she pulled me to my feet, caressing my face.

"I need you to clean up properly," she said. "That's a proper wash room." She pointed to a doorway. "Remove this horrible clothing and make yourself as beautiful for me as you are able in a short time. I will then make you very, very happy."

I immediately removed the shift. She took it from me. I stood in front of her, naked, and she caressed my face. I then stepped past her into the wash room.

There was water and soap. I stank, both from the harsh lye soap used earlier and my own sweat and fear since. I cleaned as best I could, then dried. I brushed my teeth and spent time on my hair, brushing it out until it shone as much as it was going to. There were cosmetics, and I applied a very light layer around my eyes and to my lips. I examined myself and decided I was as good as I could get in a short time. I turned around and left the room.

Dareena was waiting for me. She had removed her outer clothing and was dressed only in her under clothes. We looked at each other for a moment, then I crossed the room and knelt in front of her. She caressed my cheek.

"Do what you need to do, Dareena," I said. "If you are honest with me, then I forgive you."

She pulled me to my feet. "I do love you, Meorie." Then she pulled me into a kiss, and it was amazing. When her tongue caressed my lips, I parted for her, and she slipped her tongue into my mouth.

It was the most amazing thing I have ever tasted.

I knew most of that was the collar talking, but I didn't care anymore.

Dareena drew me to the bed, laid me down amongst the pillows, and continued to caress me, her hands exploring my body, teasing my breasts and my nipples. Her touch brought an amazing wave of pleasure, and I moaned and squirmed.

I reached for her, but she pulled away and ordered me to lie still and let her do everything.

She spent a very, very long time making love to me, and every moment of it was pure bliss. Then the orgasm came, I was screaming her name, and the waves of pleasure rolled over me and over me.

Finally she pulled away and lied down next to me. "You may move," she said. I looked over at her. At some point she had removed the rest of her clothes.

"I love you," I told her. "I love you."

She smiled, and it felt like an honest smile.

"May I pleasure you?" I asked her. She nodded.

I used my hands and my mouth, and somehow I knew exactly what she wanted, and when she came, my name was on her lips.

The Trial

Dareena made love to me several more times that night. At one point, her mother arrived in the room. As soon as I saw who had arrived, I was on my knees in front of her, and when she stepped forward in front of me, I leaned down and kissed her feet.

Dareena wrapped a robe around herself. Fridara and Dareena spoke for a few minutes, then Fridara left.

Dareena pulled me to my feet and looked into my eyes.

"Meorie, are you still in there?"

"Yes, Dareena," I said. "You are so beautiful."

"What do you think of my mother?"

"She's a royal bitch," I said, giggling.

Dareena smiled. "Good joke. It's still you."

"Yes. For now. Don't stop."

"Honey?"

"Don't stop. Take me away. Please, Dareena, please don't stop. She's not done being cruel." I paused. "Oh my god, she's going to take me away from you."

"No. Not before the end."

"Will you be with me?"

"Yes." She looked so sad. "Honey, the trial starts the day after tomorrow."

"Your mother got what she wanted.

"Yes."

"Are you to be my defense?"

"Yes."

"Honey, don't drag it out. Make it quick. Let it be quick."

"It needs to be an honest trial."

"It isn't going to be."

"I know." We looked at each other. "You will be given a chance to say something before you are sentenced. Mother will want you to remain silent. I will allow you to speak. She will be angry, but I won't stop you."

"Thank you. Then they will kill me, and it will be very, very, terrible."

"No, I will make it humane."

"You won't have the power to, but you will order me before they take me to think about how much I love you, and that is how I will die."

She pulled me to her, and my heart melted even further, as if that were possible.

We made love together over and over that night. The collar made me insatiable, and every time I came, I loved Dareena more and more.

Finally we both were exhausted. We climbed under the covers and slept.

* * *

We spent the entire next day in Dareena's room. We ate and attended to our normal needs in a proper fashion. In between, we made love. Dareena gave me countless orgasms. I gave her as many as she would allow, but the collar made me insatiable, and her capacity was limited. But then the collar insisted I find other ways to pamper her, so I gave her massages and foot rubs and anything else she asked for.

Sometime during the middle of the afternoon, Dareena looked into my eyes and said, "Meorie, are you in there?"

"I love you."

"Meorie."

"Please, I love you. Do you love me?"

"Yes, Meorie. Are you in there?"

"I love you."

"Meorie, what do you think of my mother?"

"She has a beautiful daughter."

"Oh honey," she said.

"Please don't be sad. I love you. Don't stop."

"You are still there?"

"Please don't stop."

Dareena pulled me to the bed and made love to me again, and again. I begged her for more, and she gave me everything I begged for.

At some point, I was lost.

* * *

I was numbly aware of the trial. Dareena had dressed me in a simple shift. I followed her through the palace, admiring her wonderful ass. We returned to the court room by the side door. There were two tables with chairs set up, and she led me to one, then she gave me my directions.

The trial was presided over by Queen Fridara and two other judges. I knelt the moment she entered the room and remained kneeling until Dareena told me I could sit. Then the trial began.

It was conducted in Tendaria and I didn't understand a word. But I wasn't bored, because Dareena gave me paper, a pen, and a pot of ink and told me what she wanted me to write. So all during the trial, I wrote.

Every time Dareena stood up, I looked at her. Sometimes she wanted me to stand with her, so I did. Other times she talked to one of the witnesses, so I went back to what I was writing.

Halfway through the first afternoon, the queen interrupted the proceedings. She exchanged words with Dareena, then she switched to Norinian. "Prisoner, what are you writing?"

I knelt in front of the queen. "Love letters, Your Majesty," I said. "Dareena is so beautiful."

"Read me one of these love letters," she said.

Dareena handed me one of the papers I'd written on. I looked at it then began reciting, beginning with, "My most amazing, beautiful, magnificent Dareena." I went on from there to describe her eyes and her mouth, and her breasts.

The queen stopped me. "That's enough," she said. "Go back to your seat."

I smiled and returned to my seat then I smiled at Dareena. That wasn't remotely what was on the paper. Dareena had told me she wanted me to write my story, but to tell people they were love letters.

Dareena was so smart.

* * *

The trial lasted many days. Every morning Dareena took me to the court. I wrote while people talked. I knelt when I was told to kneel and stood when I was told to stand. I smiled whenever Dareena looked at me or touched me, but she told me I must act very properly, like a proper princess, so I did, as hard as it was.

There were two days with no trials. Dareena made love to me over and over those days. She was so amazing. I wanted to be with her forever.

I finished writing my story before the trial was over. Dareena looked so sad during the trials but when she looked at me, she smiled, and sometimes she leaned over to me and told me she loved me. But I finished my story, so Dareena told me I could write love letters if I wanted to. But some days, like today, I wrote more of my story.

Finally, the people who hated me so much had no more people to say how much they hated me. The queen asked Dareena a question. She stood up and said something I didn't understand, then she sat back down. Then we were dismissed for the day. It was early, and I didn't understand why we were done so early.

Dareena led me to our room. "The trial is over," she said. "We wait now for the verdict."

I smiled. "Guilty, guilty guilty."

"Oh honey, you're still here."

"Sometimes. You're so pretty." I shook my head. "When do I talk?"

"Not for a few days," she said. "Verdict, then a small trial to decide punishment."

"Death, death, death." I looked at her. "Please hold me."

And she did, and I began to forget again.

We were summoned only a short while later. Dareena hadn't even had time to make love to me. We went back downstairs to the court.

The room was packed as it had been every day. We sat down for only a moment before we stood back up, then I was kneeling as the queen walked in. She sat, and Dareena told me I could sit. Then right away she told me to stand.

The queen spoke very briefly and then the queen and the two judges left. Dareena turned to me. "Guilty on all charges." She was white.

"Don't be sad," I said. "I told you."

"Oh honey." She took me to her room and cried. I tried to comfort her.

"Oh honey, you don't understand."

"Yes, I do. Still here. Sometimes." I held her.

"I love you," she said clutching at me.

"I love you too."

She didn't want to make love to me that night. I begged, but she wouldn't. I cried.

The next day, the people who hated me talked more. And the next, then there were two days with no trials.

Dareena didn't want to make love, but she let me cuddle with her.

"Why don't you love me anymore?" I asked her.

"I do, honey, but it's going to hurt so much."

"I am sorry," I told her. "Please don't be sad. Maybe we can have peace."

Then there was one more day where the people who hated me talked. We ended early. Dareena took me to our room and cried.

Her mother had been so cruel to her.

I held her and told her I was proud of her.

"That's the collar," she said.

"No, honey. It's me. You understand now. You understand. I am so proud of you."

* * *

The next day, Dareena talked. She talked for a long time. I smiled at her the entire time. She was so beautiful and brilliant. I didn't know what she was saying, but her voice was beautiful, and she spoke so passionately.

Finally she finished talking and came back to sit with me. The queen looked at me, and she looked differently than she had. I didn't understand why. Then Dareena stood up and said something else. The queen nodded once, then she stood up and I immediately knelt as she and the judges left.

Dareena took me to our room.

"Honey," she said as soon as the door was closed. "Are you in there?"

"What did you tell them?" I asked.

"I told them all about our trip here. I told them about how you saved my life, and how you made the boat, and how you came here hoping that doing so would give our people rest, and that we could have peace."

I nodded. "Your mother looked at me differently. For the first time since this started, I don't know why."

"Neither do I."

"Did she know I had saved your life and all the rest?"

"Yes."

"What was that at the end?"

"I asked them to hold their sentence until the morning. I asked for one more night with you. She agreed."

"Will I die tomorrow after the sentence?"

"Within the hour."

"So tomorrow I talk. Will you still let me?"

"Yes. We can't make love tonight."

I smiled. "Why not?"

"Because it makes you go away."

My smile grew wider. "I can come back whenever I want." I paused. "Tomorrow, after I talk, can you kiss me and tell me you love me, even if it's a lie."

"It's not a lie."

"Kiss me as passionately as you can, and tell me you love me, and I can go away again. After I talk. If your mother allows it. I will be gone when she kills me. If you can't, I will understand. Now, please, make love to me."

And she did, and for a long while, I was gone.

* * *

As it always does, morning came. Dareena cried, but she was able to compose herself. I told her she was amazing.

"Are you in there, Meorie?"

"Yes, Dareena. Will you let me talk?"

"Do you know what you will say?"

"Yes. Maybe. We'll see."

As she had been, Dareena led me to the court room. We sat, then we knelt, then we sat. I looked at the queen. She was about to sentence me to death. Dareena stood up and spoke for only a moment.

The queen smiled and then said in heavily accented Norinia, "Prisoner, do you have anything to say before we pronounce your sentence?"

I smiled and looked over at Dareena. She nodded. She wasn't stopping me yet. I wondered if that would last.

"Yes, Your Majesty," I said. "I would." I stood up.

The queen's jaw dropped, and she glared at Dareena, but the room was filled, and she couldn't take back her offer to let me speak.

My Piece

I stepped out from behind the table and looked around the room. "Your Majesty," I said. "I must apologize. I speak very little Tendarian, only a few words, very few words. I am unable to speak in Tendarian and must speak in Norinian. My apologies to those who can't understand."

I turned to the queen. "Would you do me the honor of repeating those words to your court?"

Dumbfounded, she nodded. She spoke briefly. I looked over at Dareena, and she nodded. I took it to mean it had been an accurate translation.

"Your Majesty, I do not know if you will wish to translate further or not." I smiled. "My apologies for the difficulty."

She waved my apology away.

I turned to the assembled people and curtsied. It was a right and proper curtsey, and I spoke so the entire room could hear. "I am Her Royal Highness, Princess Meorie of Norinia, sister and heir to the queen, first in line to the throne of Norinia. In Tendaria, I am known as the Butcher of Kilara."

I paused. The queen was silent.

"Four years ago, two great travesties occurred. In Norinia, the village of Leeman was attacked by soldiers of Tendaria. Many villagers were brutally killed. I was leading a troop of soldiers. It was my first command, a small command. I was twenty-three years old. We saw the smoke from the burning village and hurried to investigate, learning of the attack, and we set in pursuit of the people responsible."

I turned and the queen was glaring at me, but she wasn't trying to stop me.

"That was the first travesty. The soldiers responsible retreated to Tendaria and cowardly hid amongst the villagers of Kilara." I paused. "These facts are not in dispute. They are not in dispute in Norinia, and they are not in dispute in Tendaria. And that is what led to the second travesty."

I paused. "I led my soldiers to Kilara. I ordered the men responsible to present themselves. They hid in the village and did not come out. Nor did they choose that moment to attempt to escape the village. I then led my men into Kilara, and that was when the second travesty happened."

Every eye was on me, and the room was silent except for very, very quiet voices talking. I thought perhaps it was a translation of what I was saying, and I waited a moment.

"We attempted to apprehend the men involved. We failed. During our attempt some of the villagers were killed. These were people who had done nothing wrong but live too close to a border and be in the route of a cowardly group of men who chose to hide from justice. And that is a tragedy."

I waited for a moment.

"The moment I saw villagers dying, I began yelling at my men to withdraw. Several of my men were from the village that had been attacked. I found out later one man's mother was dead. Another man lost his sister and father."

"We withdrew, but only after far too many villagers were dead. And for that, Tendaria must have justice."

I returned to face the queen. "Tendaria must have justice." I said it loud enough to rattle the rafters. "Your majesty, would you care to translate that?"

She nodded and spoke firmly for just a moment. I waited for the room to settle.

Then I addressed the queen and the judges. "Tendaria must have justice. But instead, Tendaria seeks vengeance, and for that, you should be deeply ashamed." I pointed at the judges. "You should be ashamed! This trial is a mockery of justice, a mockery perpetrated by people who are known throughout the world for their sense of justice and honor, and you should be ashamed."

"That is enough!" the queen said, banging her gavel.

"It is not enough!" I said. "You, Your Majesty, should be most ashamed. I came before you in the name of peace, and how did you treat me? Your men fed me feces and urinated upon me. You kept me in a dungeon cell with the rats and the bugs, and you only let me out when I agreed to grovel to you and wear this collar, when I agreed to become your daughter's slave. Why you wanted that, I don't know. But you should be deeply ashamed. This is not justice, this is not the face of justice. This is vengeance."

I turned to the audience again. "Tendaria requires justice! Peace requires justice! And instead you seek vengeance! Each of you applauded when I was tortured in front of you. You should all be ashamed. Is that justice? No, that is vengeance!"

The queen continued to bang her gavel and was yelling at Dareena.

I turned back to the queen. "This trial is a mockery. An attempt at justice demands an unbiased process, and this room is anything but unbiased. An attempt at justice requires the defendant to actually understand the charges leveled against her, but they were issued in a language I don't speak, and no translation was offered. Justice requires the defendant understand the words spoken against her, which would have required a translator, but that was also not offered. Justice requires a proper defense attorney, which I was not offered."

Dareena looked at me sadly.

I turned to the queen. "I love your daughter. You saw to that. And she would have done anything she could to have delivered me to a just trial, but her focus was on peace, and she agreed to this travesty in the name of peace, not in the name of justice."

I walked over and squeezed Dareena's shoulder and mouthed, "I love you," to her.

"Justice requires the defendant be allowed to summon witnesses in her defense, but I was offered no opportunity to do so. I was offered no opportunity to bring forth the villagers of Leeman. I was offered no opportunity to bring forth the men who were with me that day. This is not justice, this is vengeance."

"And you should all be ashamed to call it anything but what it is!"

I waited for the translation muttering through the audience. The queen had stopped trying to silence me.

"If peace requires vengeance, then so be it! But call it what it is."

Then I addressed the audience. "Dareena, will you translate for me?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Four years ago, I was twenty-three. I led my men into Tendaria to apprehend the soldiers who had murdered my fellow Norinians In the process, innocent Tendarians died. And for that, I am deeply ashamed."

I waited for Dareena to translate. The room gasped.

"Not a day goes by that I don't think about the dead on both sides of the border."

I waited for Dareena.

"Not a day goes without me wishing I had found another way."

I waited for Dareena. She was staring at me.

"I deeply regret every one of those deaths." She translated. Then I paused. "This was four years ago. During that time, many have told me how wrong I was." I waited for her. "I was twenty-three." I paused. "Inexperienced." I paused. "In those four years, many have told me I was wrong, but not once, with all the collected wisdom of age and experience available, not once has anyone told me what I should have done."

Dareena finished the translation. I looked at her. "Did you get that?" She nodded.

"Your Majesty, I am almost done."

She didn't respond.

I looked around the room. "Youth is no excuse." Dareena translated. "I know of one mistake. I should have realized I had men from Leeman and left them behind. I don't know if I could have, as they were incensed, but I should have tried. That is the only thing I know I should have done. But which of you can tell me what else I should have done? What should I have done?"

I turned to the queen. "How dare you judge me if in four years and all your years of wisdom, you can not tell me how the twenty-three-year-old should have behaved, but only how she shouldn't have. I dare any of you to do any better than I did."

I took a deep breath.

"Tendaria must have justice. I am blamed for starting the war. That is a scapegoat. The war was started by Queen Fridara. It was her army who chose to attack Norinia en masse. It was her choice to turn these two travesties into a four-year war between two proud countries. This trial is her attempt to place the blame squarely on my shoulders. You may try me for my mistakes at Kilara, but the war is not my fault, it is your queen's."

Then I turned around and addressed the audience once more. "Tendaria must have justice, and I am here. Tendaria wants vengeance. I am here. But does Tendaria want peace? That is why I am here."

I turned to the queen and knelt in front of her for a moment, then turned to Dareena and spoke very quietly. "Please kiss me, Dareena, make me go away, please kiss me. I don't want to know how your mother will execute me."

And then I was kneeling to Dareena and she was kissing me, and I disappeared to her kisses.

Confusion

The room was in an uproar. Dareena kissed me, then ordered me back to my chair. I was lost in the bliss from her kiss.

The queen banged her gavel and yelled and banged, and finally the room grew quiet. She banged her gavel once more and Dareena told me to kneel, so I did.

The queen and the judges left and Dareena pulled me to my feet.

"When do I die?" I asked her. I wasn't completely gone.

"Court adjourned," she said. "No sentence. Come."

I followed her to our room. Once we got there, I begged Dareena, "I'm not gone far enough, please make me gone, please please please."

"You were brilliant, Meorie. Brilliant!"

"Your mother is very angry at you. She is going to hurt you. Maybe she'll use me to do it. Please, I beg you, send me away before she does it."

I tried kissing her, but she ordered me to stop.

"Please, Dareena. Please. She's going to torture me to death."

"I don't think so."

"You didn't think it would be vengeance. You expected justice. You were wrong. You're wrong now. Please send me away. I can come back if I need to, please send me away."

Then she turned to me. "I do love you," she said, and I felt myself melt. "You are so amazing, and I love you." Then she began petting me.

I didn't know if she was telling the truth, but she sent me away, and I was lost in my love of her.

* * *

"Honey," she said. "I must go see what is happening."

"Please make love to me."

"We just did."

"I know. Didn't you like it?"

"Very much so. Stay here. I will come back for you."

"Wait."

"I have to go."

"If a guard comes, the collar will punish me if he makes me leave."

"Stay here unless forced to leave."

"Thank you."

She kissed me once more. As she left, I stared at her ass and tried very hard to think about how much I loved her.

But inside, I was very, very afraid.

Dareena was gone for some time. When she returned, she was carrying clothes and smiling. She threw the clothes onto the bed and pulled me into a deep, deep kiss. When my tongue asked to play, however, she pushed me away. I offered a hurt look.

"No, I can't afford you to go away. Meorie, are you with me?"

I nodded. "I tried to stay away, but Dareena, I'm so scared. I don't mind dying, but I don't want to be tortured."

"Mother is very angry with me," she said. "She wants to see you, but she said to dress you properly." She pointed to the clothes. "I'll help you get dressed."

"Please send me away, Dareena! Please!" I reached for her.

"Trust me," she said. "Trust me."

"I've been trusting you," I said. "How has that worked out so far?"

She laughed weakly. "Once more, for old time's sake."

I sighed and let her dress me. It wasn't as fine a dress as had been destroyed, and it hung loosely on me, but at least it was a proper dress. She found the other pair of shoes in my chest. They didn't match the dress, but they would have to do.

Dareena had me sit while she messed with my hair and gave me a light coating of makeup. I was sure I was still a fright, but she said we were out of time. Then she took my hand and we walked together through the palace, arriving at another set of doors. There were two guards waiting outside. Dareena pulled me to face her.

"Meorie, you must not escape, and you must not attempt to hurt anyone, even yourself. But you may act how you wish. You may kneel if you wish, but you no longer are forced to kneel." Then she pulled me into a hug and said, "I love you."

I kissed her ear and thanked her for saying so. I wasn't sure I believed it, but it was nice of her to act like it.

She hugged me tightly once more then released me. She nodded to the guards, who opened the doors.

We stepped in together. We were in the queen's outer chambers. The inner chambers doors were open and we stepped through. The queen was standing, looking out the window. Dareena knelt very briefly and stood. I chose not to.

The queen turned around. "Daughter, you will wait outside with the guards. Listen for me to call for you." She spoke in her accented Norinian.

"Yes, mother," she said. Dareena squeezed my hand once more and whispered, "I am so proud of you," before leaving. I watched her leave, then turned back to the queen.

"Well," she said. "You aren't kneeling."

"We are in private," I said. "I don't kneel to my own queen in private, but if your ego requires it." And I lowered myself to a kneel.

"Oh, get up," she said. I almost didn't understand her and had to replay it in my head once, but then I stood up. We examined each other from several feet apart. "What am I going to do with you?"

"I presume, Your Majesty, have me executed. Probably in some gruesome fashion."

She turned away. "I gave my daughter a choice, back when she was negotiating your release from the dungeons. When it was time for you to die, you could be tortured to death, or she could look into your eyes and slit your throat."

My jaw dropped. "You would do that to your own daughter?"

She turned to face me. "Yes. Imagine what I would do to the Butcher of Kilara."

"Do you think you can scare me any more than I am already scared?"

She didn't answer right away, then changed the subject. "You are a fine actress."

"Your Majesty?"

"You have done an impressive job convincing everyone you are deeply devoted to Dareena."

I smiled. "I worship the ground she walks on."

"Acting."

"Not at all." I paused. "Bring your daughter in and have her order me to tell the truth. If I lie, the collar will let you know."

"She loves you," Fridara said.

"She may be fond of me. She is very kind to tell me she loves me. All through the trial, she took all my fear away."

I watched the queen pace the room. "Whatever am I to do with you?"

"I thought we'd already determined that." I paused. "Tell me, of the things I said, which of them were wrong?"

She turned to me. "Not a single one."

"What should I have done four years ago?"

"Not gone into the village."

"That's what I shouldn't have done. What should I have done?"

She didn't have an answer.

"Perhaps we should have waited at the border. Lodged a complaint. You know, like you did for me."

She had the grace to blush. She hadn't done that at all. She was far, far more guilty than I was.

"Was the peace offer real?"

"No."

"Does Dareena know that?"

"No. She believes in it. She came to me with a plan for peace. I saw it as an opportunity to get you here."

"Well, maybe vengeance will make some people happy. When do I die? Will your daughter slit my throat, or have you rescinded that offer?"

She took a deep breath then turned away. "If I execute you now, I am publicly admitting the truth of your words. If I do so cruelly, the entire world will know about it."

I didn't say anything.

She turned back to me. "You seem to have wisdom beyond your years. What would you do?"

"I would ask whether I wanted peace."

"And if I did?"

"I would ask what would bring healing."

She paused for a moment. "And you, if you could make a wish, and it were to be granted by the gods, what would it be?"

"To undo everything from four years ago."

She frowned. "Without changing the past."

"Ah, well then, if Dareena truly loves me, then I would ask to spend the rest of my life with her. If she does not, then I don't know. I don't know if I can forgive my sister or my uncle. I don't know if I could make a home in Norinia again." I paused. "If I am to die, I would like a clean death that didn't scar Dareena."

"Dareena is my heir. You could not be in the line of succession in Norinia and be with her at the same time. Linara could die without a child, and then you would be queen." She paused. "You could be a very good queen."

I shrugged. "My sister is healthy. I have cousins that are good people. The monarchy of Norinia would not suffer if I were no longer heir to the throne." I paused. "Are you trying to give me hope just so you can cruelly shatter it?"

"I very well may be." Then she raised her voice, calling Dareena's name. The door opened, and Dareena answered. She joined us, taking my hand and squeezing for a moment.

Fridara spoke to Dareena in Tendaria for a moment. Dareena answered her in Norinian. "Yes, Mother, I love her."

I looked at her and smiled, my heart melting.

Fridara took a deep breath. "You may go. Sentencing in the morning. Princess Meorie, if you are to die, it will not be cruelly."

I knelt very briefly before we departed.

"You two have tonight. Use it wisely," she said to our backs.

* * *

We did.

Sentencing

In the morning, Dareena was crying. "I really do love you," she said. "I am so sorry. I thought there would be real justice."

I hugged her. "Thank you," I said. "I couldn't have done this without you."

"I thought there could be peace," she said.

"Maybe there can. Maybe vengeance is enough for healing to start."

We received a note from the queen. "Dress her properly," Dareena told me it said. I dressed as I had to visit the queen last night. Dareena again helped with my hair and makeup, and we descended to court. I held her hand and squeezed far too hard.

We took our seats and waited. The room was full, even fuller than yesterday. I glanced around the room. I saw a few hard looks, but not many.

When the queen came in, I knelt briefly with Dareena, but rose when she did, then took my seat.

The queen gaveled us to order. She looked around the room, then she addressed Dareena. When she finished, Dareena turned to me and squeezed my hand. "I am to translate," she said. "I am sorry."

I nodded, and she left me, ascending the dias to stand to the left of the queen. Dareena's eyes were on mine the entire time.

"Princess Meorie, you will rise," said the queen in Norinian. I was surprised, but I stood up. She gestured to me, and I moved to a place immediately in front of her.

"Princess Meorie," she said. "Every word you said in court yesterday was true."

The court gasped, some of them right away, some after Dareena translated into Tendarian.

"Every word." The queen paused. "Tendaria spoke of justice, but sought only vengeance. I am deeply ashamed. You have my heartfelt apology."

I stared at her. I wasn't sure what to do. "Your Majesty," I said. "I hope you understand I would like to hear the rest of what you say before I respond to the apology."

She smiled at that. "Quite understandable."

"The previous verdicts are rescinded," she said in a firm voice, then repeated it herself in Tendarian.

The court gasped again and talked for a while until the queen banged the gavel.

"We desire peace," she said. "A wise woman suggested to me that peace begins with healing." She smiled at me again. "Healing does not begin through vengeance! But healing in this case requires sacrifice. Would you agree, Princess Meorie?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Princess Meorie, you will renounce all claims to the throne of Norinia. You will renounce your title of Princess. And, as long as you both shall wish, you shall remain here with my daughter. Do you agree to these terms, required for healing?"

I stared at her. Then I looked at Dareena. "Do you want me?"

"Yes," Dareena said without hesitation.

"Your Majesty, I agree to your terms."

She banged her gavel. "Case adjourned."

The room broke in an out roar. It was unclear how many were pleased with the results, how many were displeased. But Queen Fridara wasn't finished. She began banging her gavel and raised her voice, speaking a single word in Tendaria.

The room instantly became still.

"Peace requires healing," she said. "And healing requires sacrifice. Four years ago, mistakes were made. Some were made by Meorie, former princess of Norinia. Far far greater mistakes were made by me. Meorie acted with no time for contemplation, with no recourse to counsel, and with no wisdom that comes from age. I have none of those excuses. If Norinia agrees to this peace, I hereby abdicate in favor of my daughter, Princess Dareena of Tendaria."

She banged the gavel repeatedly and spoke hotly in Tendaria, speaking far too quickly for Dareena to translate. Then she returned to speaking in Norinia. "Princess Dareena, Meorie, I will require you to take another trip. On your return, if there will be peace, I will abdicate, and daughter, you will be crowned queen."

She banged the gavel. "Court adjourned."

Then she got up and I hastily knelt as she left.

One Year Later

"Good morning, Queen Dareena," I said to my lover.

Dareena opened her eyes and looked at me. "I love you."

"You say the sweetest things. You have to get up. Royal presence required and all that."

"Can't you handle it?"

"No. I have my own duties today."

She pulled me into a kiss and it felt divine. Then she pushed me away. "Why won't you let me remove the collar? How do I know what I do for you is real?"

I smiled. "Healing requires sacrifice. Tendaria need to see me in it." I smiled. "But it's real, trust me, it's real."

"And you're an addict to what the collar does to you."

I smiled. "Guilty as charged, but I seem to remember you enjoyed the other night when you wore it."

"Shhh!" she said. "If anyone knew I wore your slave collar for a night, they would be scandalized." She smiled. "And wow, did that feel good."

"If you are very, very good, I will let you wear it again this coming weekend."

She smiled. "I'm always good."

About the author:

Julia P. Lynde lives and works in the American mid-west.

Julia is older than most of the characters in her books. She has blue eyes and grey hair. She enjoys hiking in the mountains (difficult to do in the mid-west) and hosting dinner parties.

Julia can be reached via email as julia.p.lynde@gmail.com.

Julia's other works include:

Novels

Rewind:

Emerging from traumatic events of her past, Shane is left dealing with newfound self-revelations until she seeks help from an unexpected quarter.

Veronica is a stunning and powerful businesswoman who knows what she wants and lives for the seduction involved in getting it.

Complicated doesn't begin to describe the results.

Rewind features graphic sex between consenting women and some light BDSM.

Pulled to the Dark: The Siriena Series Volume 1:

Felicia Conner begins having recurring dreams of the woman who gave her a great new job. Night after night, Petra appears in her dreams. Petra begins to teach Felicia the wonders of the dream world she inhabits while Felicia begins to wonder how she can have such lifelike dreams night after night.

Petra welcomes Felicia to the world of Siriena, where the world may just very well be as it seems.

This complete novel of 95,000 words contains swords, magic, intriguing characters, an easy-to-hate villain and graphic sex scenes between Felicia and Petra.

Novellas

Unwilling

Alexandra and Melissa are coworkers who entirely hate each other, each for her own reasons. One Friday night, Melissa desperately needs Alex to save Melissa's job.

Alex gives Melissa an offer: be her servant for a month or join the unemployment line, believing Melissa would rather take her chances than bow to Alexandra. Instead, Melissa accepts.

This 30,000 word novella (about 100 printed pages) features domination, submission, bondage, and just a touch of some hot sex.

Holiday Escort (Coming Soon)

Madeline Burnet is out of work after ten years as the highly-skilled personal assistant to the owner of a luxury travel agency. During a job interview, she meets Karen Green. The job requires skills Madeline doesn't have, but Karen offers an unexpected alternative arrangement.

She needs a fake girlfriend to help her get through the holiday season. Madeline's affections are not aligned towards women, but she accepts for the money and the chance to make more contacts.

It turns out that being a fake girlfriend can be a very confusing job.

Holiday Escort is a delightful tale involving two very different women. This story is sure to bring pleasure to the reader.

Shorts

Bound in Arrogance

"You wouldn't last two hours of my attention," Penny told me, turning it into a wager. Foolishly, I rose to the bait.

Bound in Arrogance features Veronica and Penny several years prior to the events in Rewind. It features light BDSM.

Emily's Gift

Succubus Volume 1

Emily's daughter has taken a bad path, and Emily turned to the fae succubus, Anita, for her own brand of help.

This short story of 9400 words features intriguing characters and some steamy female on succubus sex.

Snow Bound

First in the 5-part Snow Bound Series.

After a near experience with a deer, Allison is pulled from her car by Sarah, troubled twenty-five-year-old photographer. Sarah drives Allison to Allison's secluded cabin on a lake, where the two become snow bound.

Allison finds Sarah deeply attractive. Will Sarah's troubled past interfere with a possible future?

This short of 10,000 words contains graphic sex, light bondage, domination, and a mind game or two.

Paying The Price

Copyright 2013 by Julia P. Lynde

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.

* * *

License Notes

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