Caught Fire

Caught Fire

Part 5

By Dari

Winter came and went by and I was still staying with Tane in his hut. We had

often been snowed in, but that had been rather a question of who of the two of

us went outside to radically thaw away most of the snow and ice than if it would

ever melt away on its own. When the days began to get warmer once more I was

already quite familiar with my abilities, and now it was never the question if I

could call forth the fire and control it, but rather what to do with that tool.

Several scorch marks on the meadows around the house bore witness of my

experiments, but as long as I didn't get too cocky I could well say that I had

mastered it.

We were sitting in front of the house, looking at one of the first warm spring

sunsets when Tane finally admitted that I had learnt quite a lot over the cold

seasons. He wasn't one to turn down my talents, but he seldom praised my

efforts, mostly because of his understanding of truth. He often told me that I

knew by myself if I was worth some praise, so he wouldn't insult me with false

compliments. On the other hand he nearly never scolded me for getting

overambitious what mostly ended in burnt skin and singed hair. All in all we

hadn't had any sort of problems during winter, neither fire nor sex related.

Being used to his smirks and taunts I was kind of dumbfounded when he brought

the topic round to my skills, so I got a bit suspicious. With Tane the most

harmless sentence could be the beginnings of weeklong conflicts, and this

opening just didn't bode well, somehow. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

When I didn't say a thing, just eyed him askance, he caught my gaze and just

laughed. "Don't look so shocked, I really mean it, you've learnt quite a lot,

and I'm proud of what you are able to do now." There had to be something wrong

if he even told me twice. When I uttered my suspicion loud he only grinned. "I

really must be making you mad sometimes if you begin to act like that from a

mere complement." I didn't comment on that, but that was not really necessary as

he went on before I could even utter a word. "But of course there is more to my

words, as always." He made another dramatic pause before speaking on.

"For once there is really no obligation for you in it. It's just that I was

wondering if you'd like to take your first Test of Challenge." He had only

vaguely talked about these tests. I knew that there were three of them, and only

those who passed them all could call themselves elemental fire masters, but I

had thought that one had to learn for years to have a chance to try it. So I was

quite surprised when he now brought that subject up. "But don't I need to know

much more about that?"

Tane only shrugged. "The requirements are proper control and being able to cause

some havoc, both should no longer be a problem for you. Mind that you are no

normal mage who has to study near decades to accomplish anything. What they

learn in years one of us can do in mere months. If the winter hadn't been so

bitter I would have thought about it before, but I didn't want to leave the hut

for a week or so, so I waited until spring."

I just leaned my head back to rest against the wood of the wall and stared at

the setting sun for a while. "You really think I stand a chance there?" Tane

nodded fervently. "I wouldn't have brought the subject up if I had any doubts.

Being inside a big city once more will do both of us some good, and if you pass

the test which I don't doubt you might even think about getting the signs of

that new status brought to your flesh so that everyone can see how far you have

come already."

Now that made me frown once again. I would really praise the day when he started

naming things by their proper names and quit talking around everything. A

slightly enervated look from my side was enough for him to explain himself with

a smile dancing around the corners of his mouth. "You know the tattoos I bear?

Some of them are my personal mark for passing the tests. Not all people feel

comfortable with them, so it's not a requirement for us to let them be made, but

they are something special so I at least wear mine with pride. You can decide

for yourself what to make of that. I'm sure your lovely body would look lovelier

still with some dark flames dancing over it."

While I mused about that Tane rested one of his arms around my shoulders and

drew me close to him. I let him and just rested my head against his chest. "Just

what kinds of tattoos are usual for someone to have passed the first test?" He

shrugged softly. "Well, that depends on every individual person; the only

restrictions are the colours. First test is black, second blue and when you pass

the third you can use any colours you like, but most stick to yellow and red.

It's a special kind of ink that they use so there is no way of faking the marks.

For a motive you can use everything you like, but as we are so close to fire

most of us stick to flames licking over their bodies. If you really want to have

one for yourself, the masters of this art will surely be able to show you a lot

of motives and create new ones so you'll find the perfect one. There has to be

some advantage to our trade." With that the topic seemed to be settled for him,

and as it grew cold once the sun had set we made our way inside the house for

dinner.

The next morning I had nearly forgotten about that topic when I got up. I was a

bit curious when I walked into the living room as it was only about one hour

past dawn and Tane was already awake and wandering about without waking me up.

Normally he didn't let a chance like that pass but for today he didn't seem in

the mood to taunt me. It sometimes happened, even with him, that he would next

to ignore me for a day or two, or at least ignore that I was the woman he lived

and shared his bed with.

The smell of fresh bread weaved through the air and made me frown even more

while I drew my blanket closer around my body. It also happened that he

teleported to the next village to get us fresh breakfast, but that usually

followed a night where he felt he had to make something up to me. I briefly

checked my body. No, I had not forgotten something that somehow escaped my

notice. Not that it was possible to forget anything that grave, but it was

easier to start by myself.

When he saw me entering he stopped from packing some things into a backpack. I

stopped next to him to examine the contents of the bag but he only slapped my

ass lightly to goad me on. "Get your things together, we are off to Mendala.

We'll be staying for about a week, but don't pack anything too heavy; the

weather's quite warm down there." For a moment I just stared at him, than a

nearly hysterical laugh escaped my mouth. "We are going where?" Tane stopped

once more to look at me, exasperation standing on his face. "Today this year's

Tests of Challenge begin, or why do you think I mentioned the topic yesterday?"

I felt my mouth drop open and hurried to blank out any surprise from my face.

That was just like him, to not tell me everything and then let me no other

options. Yet who was I to object?

In less than an hour we were both standing outside the hut with our bags slung

over our shoulders. I was shivering in my light summer dress, but Tane had

downright forbidden me to take a cloak along, so I just had to wait for him to

open his damned portal to get us somewhere warm. I was still too confused to

really think everything through, mainly because I was just nervous. He could at

least have warned me yesterday evening.

Finally the portal opened and we both stepped through it. Instantly it got about

twenty degrees hotter, and the air I was inhaling was dry and full of spices.

When I observed my new surroundings, I saw that he had brought us to a shady

side street of a market place in some town that evidently lay far away to the

south, judging from the temperature. Without hesitation Tane strode off towards

the far end of the alley, and I had to follow him so that I wouldn't be left

alone.

The street opened into a busy marketplace. All around hawkers offered their

wares while the people were milling around the stands. The air smelt of too many

people, food, animals, and under all that the fresh smell of sea water. Everyone

was wearing wide, flowing garments, and most people's skin was bronzed by the

sun. Tane with his blond hair and blue eyes stood somewhat out of the crowd,

more than I, but he seemed to move between the people as if he belonged there.

He didn't stop at any of the stalls but threaded his way through the mass of

people to enter another small alley on the other side of the market. This one

opened to another plaza that was enclosed on three sides by a huge yet only two

stories high building. Before one of the gates I saw several young men in robes

standing around, and I took my guess that we had reached our destination.

Tane ignored the men by the big gate and instead led me over to a small side

entrance. Inside it was much cooler as on the outside and so dark that my eyes

needed nearly a minute to adjust. We were in some kind of reception area, and

Tane was already chatting with a small man behind a desk. They spoke a language

that I didn't understand so I took my time to look at the room. There wasn't

much to look at so I got bored soon.

After about ten minutes the conversation ended, and Tane came back to me. "Well,

everything is settled so far, you are listed for testing around midday, so we

have enough time to get ourselves a room for our stay. I know some inns around

here so this won't take us long." As always he walked out of the room before I

could ask any questions, so I had to wait until I had caught up with him on the

street. "I don't speak their language, how will ..." He stopped and shushed me

with a finger over my lips. "The mages and sorcerers inside all talk your

tongue; it's just some of the town folks who are not so familiar with it. So

don't worry." Well, I did worry, but as he had already started walking again and

I didn't want to get lost I had to put that to later thoughts.

For several minutes we wandered through the town and I got some better looks at

the buildings and at the people. Although everything seemed a bit foreign to me

it was not that different to any other town I had ever been in. That also

applied to the inn that we finally entered, a small, slightly shabby building

that lay on the outskirts of the town, about ten minutes to go from the testing

grounds. When we entered the proprietor, a stout middle aged woman, came to

greet us. For me she had only one cool glance to spare, but she hugged Tane like

a long lost son and began to chat with him in that strange language I didn't

know. When she shouted something towards the back of the house two serving girls

rushed out, both nearly toppling over in haste to downright throw themselves

into Tane's arms. I chose to study the grimy walls meanwhile. Can't say that I

was jealous, but this was just strange. The antisocial bane of my life seemed to

be the sweetie of nearly every woman in this house at least.

The hugging and greeting went on for another five minutes or so, while the three

women took turns directing patronizing glances at me. I was nearly fuming by the

time Tane loosened himself of the pack and seemed to briefly introduce me. At

least I understood my name and he signalled at me, but apart from that I didn't

get the meaning of his words. It must have been something funny because the two

serving girls began to jiggle like mad, and I felt my mood drop once more. As I

had nothing better to do I brought an insincere smile on my face and let it

plastered there until Tane finally took my arm and shooed me up some steps to

the upper story. There were several doors there, and he led me to the one at the

end of the corridor that opened into a quite comfortable room. It was bigger

than I had thought, and through the curtains in front of the window streamed

warm orange light.

After he had closed the door Tane studied me for a moment and let his pack drop

to the floor. "I'm sorry, I should have introduced you beforehand, you must have

felt quite uncomfortable the way they were staring at you. I'm sorry." I dropped

my own pack and sat down on the bed. It was rather hard, but as I didn't plan to

bounce around on it, it would suffice. When I looked up at him again he really

looked quite apologetic. "Doesn't matter, really." I tried to just shake it off,

but my voice had a slight tremble to it that he surely wouldn't miss. The moment

my words were out Tane's frown deepened. "You really don't have to worry, for as

long as you stay with me you'll be the only woman in my bed."

Now that really made me stare at him for a moment. "Do you think I'm jealous?"

The answer to that I didn't know myself, but that was surely not the reason why

I felt a bit miserable right now. Tane blinked for a moment before talking on.

"You are not?" I vehemently shook my head, as if to convince myself as much as

him. "No. Really not." For a moment it looked as if he still doubted it, but

then he shrugged and flopped down on the bed next to me. "So why are you that

grumpy, then?" "I am not ..." Once more he laid a finger over my lips. "You are.

Now, why?"

I sighed and briefly closed my eyes. "I'm nervous, that's all. And I hate it

when I can't understand what you tell these people. That vexes me, somehow." I

only got a smile in return. "I just told them that you were my student and that

I'm here for your test, nothing more, nothing less. Satisfied?" No, not really,

but I didn't tell him that but nodded instead. "Okay."

For a moment he just looked at my face, while gently tracing the contours of my

lips with his finger. "But back to that being faithful thing, you wouldn't mind

me fucking another woman?" I just looked at him with a blank face, something I

had adopted from him. "No, I mean we don't have some kind of special

relationship, now do we? You said so yourself once, it's just fucking, not love,

so why should I bother?" For a moment I saw something pass over his features,

but before I could discern what it might mean his face was as blank as mine.

"Well, yes, I'm glad that you see it the same way as I do."

Then his mocking smile returned. "So you wouldn't mind if I would make myself a

good time with Ginia and Lia, the two girls from downstairs?" I forced a dry

laugh out of my throat. "If you are that insatiable that you need them both at

the same time, be my guest. But not in front of me if possible, I'd like to have

my privacy." He just laughed and then hugged me. "Just don't get some stupid

ideas in your little cute head, I'm not that forgiving and I'm a hell of a

jealous bastard." I didn't respond, but as I didn't plan on cheating on him I

didn't judge that a great danger.

Tane kissed me on the lips and got up once more to begin to rout through

the things I had packed. I propped myself up on my elbow and studied him for a

while, grinning rather amused when he threw the three dresses one after the

other at the bed. "Say, do you even own anything apart from these tatters?" The

nearly lost look on his face made me laugh out loud. "Well, no, as you are

responsible for everything I wear I just have what you buy me." He pulled a face

and then studied the dresses once more. "I can't let you run around like that

here. Apart from the cut they are still too warm, you'll sweat to death with

them." He mused over that for a moment, then extended a hand towards me. "Get up

and out of that thing, I'll have to take measure if I want to buy you something

more suitable to wear."

I just blinked up at him. "You know every centimetre of my body, what for do you

need to take measure?" A smirk crept up on his features. "Maybe I just want to

fondle you for a while so I won't be tempted by other distractions?" I hesitated

long enough for him to look just a tad bit impatient, then got up on my own

account and slipped out of the dress. I only wore panties and a bodice

underneath as Tane had expressed his dislikes for any additional garments that

might conceal my body, and as he was the one who went shopping I was stuck with

the things he brought home.

Before I was able to throw the dress on the bed his hands already rested on my

hips and drew me closer to him. He kissed me passionately while opening the

stings of my bodice. I tried to catch his fingers so that he was unable to

undress me fully but as always it was a futile gesture. All too soon I stood

stark naked in front of him. As I was nude for about two thirds of the day it

was something I was quite accustomed to - at home. Here I rediscovered my urge

for modesty and glanced at the door the moment he rid me of the bodice. Tane saw

my gaze and just smiled. "No one will come up here, so don't worry."

He then let his hands roam over my body, gently touching my skin, to come

resting over my breasts. His touch was quite casual, something that might come

from the fact that he touched me a lot even when we were not fucking or just

lying in bed, but this time he stepped back before even trying to caress any

important parts of my anatomy. For a moment he just studied my body, then told

me to turn around slowly so he got a good look at my backside. I did as he told

me although I was a bit confused. Why really make such a show out of it?

When I turned back around I caught him gazing in admiration at me, something he

usually didn't. Of course he sometimes told me that he liked my body, mostly

accompanied with a pat on my ass, but he never looked at me this way. So I just

stared at him a little confused. "Is something wrong?" He tore his gaze from my

body to look me in the face. He still looked a bit out of his wits. "I just

realized how beautiful you really are." Most women might melt down at such

words, I only frowned.

"Don't talk such nonsense; we have already established that you don't fuck me

because of my body, that you don't mind all that much that I don't have good

looks, so stop that false flattery." I sounded a bit angry, but it was mainly

anger at myself. Although he had never uttered any patronizing words or just

looked at me in a strange way I knew that there were many women around who had a

nicer shaped body than me. I'm too short, too stout, my breasts just sag a

little and are not really firm, and my legs are too short, and so on. I guess I

could rave on about an hour long and not be finished with my complaints. But he

never agreed with me, he wouldn't even let me speak up on that subject. But

until now he hadn't stared with such open disbelief at me when I had started

with it.

Instead of answering he walked behind me, took hold of my arms and then gently

edged me over to the tall mirror that rested in the corner. He had no mirrors at

home, a detail I greatly appreciated about the hut, and I normally fled from any

glasses that were around me. The moment he felt me trying to bolt he tightened

his grip on my arms, forcing me in front of that damned thing. For a moment I

just stared at his reflection, trying to put a lot of anger in my gaze. He just

chuckled and let go of my arms. "Just look at yourself. Just look. Then you'll

understand what I mean."

I frowned but eventually gave in and stared at my body. Then I really stared, or

rather gaped. That couldn't be me in that reflection. Yet when I dropped a

controlling look down my real body I saw the same signs. My boobs still sagged a

bit, mainly because they were a bit too full not to, but my belly was nearly

flat, with just a hint of muscles underneath; my hips were no longer looking

like the archetype of fertility goddesses, same as my legs. When I turned a bit

to one side to get a better look at my ass it looked also smaller and better

formed. My collarbones were a bit more prominent, same as my jaw, and my whole

body had lost the permanent look of softness. I was not lean or something, just

...

Tane's chuckle tore me out of my astonished studies. "I guess you got it." I

just nodded, still not really able to tear my gaze of my body. "But how, I mean

..." Once more he laughed. "Just add up the many hours you have spent struggling

against me or my bonds; that does provide for some exercise." He could just be

right. It still was astonishing.

I would have been standing there for a while longer, but Tane let his hands drop

down on my shoulders and turned me around to face him. "As shocking as this has

to be for you, you are just looking great. Yet you are due to go to the tests,

while I will take my time roaming the shops for proper attire for you. So get

dressed, it would be a bit too unfair of you to turn up naked for the test. I'm

sure the judges would just let you through, but you would bitch about that for a

long time, so it's easier for us both when you go dressed."

I glared at him once more before slipping my clothes back on. Sometimes I really

felt like going for his throat for some of his comments, just like now. Maybe it

was just my nervousness. It had to be that, because normally my level of

tolerance lay much higher. When I had finished dressing Tane stepped up in front

of me once more, while running his hands over my upper arms.

"Don't scowl that much, I know that you are nervous, but believe me, I wouldn't

send you there if I had any doubts. Just stay calm and don't apologize if

something goes awry, mistakes do happen. It doesn't matter. And should you

really fail, which I do doubt, but it might happen if you loose your serenity,

it doesn't matter. Do you understand? It really doesn't matter." Instead of

waiting for an answer he kissed me again, now taking his time to swirl his

tongue around mine. I allowed myself to melt against his body, letting him

comfort me with his touch more than his words, before he drew back and smiled at

me. "You'll make it easily, believe me. Now off we go, we don't want to be late,

now do we?"

The way back to the testing building was just a blur for me, and my heart seemed

to thud so loud in my ears that I didn't hear much apart from it. It all went

way too fast. When we arrived the big gate stood open and a slow trickle of

people went in, mostly men. I only saw three women, and all were well above my

age, and considering the way they talked with the surrounding people they were

rather the teachers than the students.

One or two of the other mages and sorcerers greeted Tane, but most ignored us,

or just stared at him with at least some scorn. Either they ignored everyone

they didn't know, or they knew him all too well. I really didn't know which of

the two I preferred. So we just ventured inside, entering a great hall. Tane

gently ushered me deeper into the room so we were not in the direct way of

others who entered, and took his time to try to calm me once more. Like before

he didn't accomplish much, I was just too nervous.

Far too soon a door at the other end of the hall opened and two men clad in

robes came out to call for the students to be tested to follow them. Tane smiled

me a quick good-bye, and for once I was really relieved that he didn't kiss me

or something like that. We had never established how we would fare in the middle

of so many people, but I was glad that he acted as if I were just his pupil.

When I followed the other students I realized one thing. Tane had been right as

mages seemed to have to study quite a long time to accomplish anything in this

direction, as most of the other students were above my age. Being the only woman

made me stand out a bit, but I tried to ignore that fact. There were quite a few

who gaped at me openly, but I was far too nervous to let that get through to me.

The two men now began to read names off a list to see if everyone had turned up.

During the sorting we were already split up in three groups for the appropriate

three levels of testing. My group was by far the largest. After that the other

two groups of students left the room, so that only the students who wanted to

try their abilities on the first test were still here.

I was so nervous that I nearly began to gnaw at my finger nails but held back

when I saw one of the other students staring at me. He was a bit older than me,

looked rather lanky with his long black robe and the thin body beneath, but the

malevolence in his gaze nearly made me shiver. He stared at me as if I were some

sort of troublesome bug, something that threw me a bit off my being so nervous.

I was sure that I had never encountered him before, not at the Academy or at my

former works, but he looked at me as if he knew me. That somehow didn't fit.

After he saw me watching him he came over to stand closer to me. "I'm really

surprised that you have the courage to show up here. I hope you know that here

you are judged solely by your talents, not by your body as your master evidently

does?" I could just frown, but kept my mouth shut. He just sounded like a

presumptuous bastard. When I didn't reply to his bait he directed an insincere

smile at me and offered me his hand. "I'm Anthony, Drake's student." Now that

did explain some things.

I just stared down at his hand, then back at his face without returning the

greetings or introducing myself. "And I hope they told you that you will need

more than just your loose mouth to pass any test in your life? Mere words won't

get you through, you know." His eyes went wide for a moment when I insulted him,

but then he only chuckled. It was a poor sound coming from him. At least I was

used to chuckles of a darker quality.

Yet before Anthony could talk on he was silenced by the two mages who began to

explain what was expected of us. After listening to them I quieted down a bit.

Tane had been right, from what I had just heard it wouldn't be all that hard to

pass that test, even if I was nervous enough not to have my full control. It

even left me enough of my nerves left to keep glaring at Anthony when I caught

him watching me again.

One after the other the mages called our names and had us step forward to prove

what we had leaned until now. I was the tenth to conjure up my fire, and against

all of my frights I had no problems to let a wall of fire walk through the room,

even sparing one of the desks that many had scorched before. They also wanted to

see some tricks like letting single flames dancing over the fingers of one hand.

I added some different colours to the show, and they let me through with no

further comment than "passed". Anthony came somewhere after me, but I didn't

really pay attention. I was just too happy to have passed the test without any

problems.

All in all over two thirds of the students made it, and the ones who failed were

not that unhappy as they had already anticipated something like that. While the

mages were scanning their lists once more Anthony turned up next to me once more

before I could avoid him. When he smiled at me I just tried to stare him down,

but it didn't really work, only made him frown.

"You know, with that trick of the flames you might even make a career in a

circus. I guess they'd have need of a whore who can cast pretty lights all over

the room." Still I didn't rise to the bait, but from his mocking grin I saw that

he had realized that his words did vex me, even if I didn't scowl at him. His

grin only widened when I tried to make a dash for the door when all the students

were ushered out of the room, but with a firm grip on my arm he held me back.

"Not so quick, I'll have to make a proposal. We both know that we are a cut

above all these worms. Why not find out who's better in a duel?" I had tried to

keep my mouth shut whatever he said, but now that the tone of his voice had

changed from mocking to feigned interest I couldn't keep quiet any more. "Why

should I rise to that? I came here to pass the test, I just did that, and I

don't need you to know how good I am." Anthony only declined his head in a mock

bow. "Well, that might be, but a duel between us might mean a passed second test

for at least one of us if we show enough talent. And it's much more fun than the

stupid things they let us perform for the normal tests." When he saw that I

tried to turn around once more to signal my disinterest, he coughed briefly. "Or

is Drake that right that Tane is not only a dick with a loose tongue, but you

are just his whore who he only shows enough to keep her happy enough to consent

to his ilk? From your looks I thought you are more like, well, independent and

have a head on your own, but I must have been mistaken if you follow the word of

your master to the letter?"

I didn't know what made me mad at Anthony all of a sudden; surely not that he

once more called me a whore. With that I could life. I also had no problems with

him accusing me of being Tane's puppy; I guess it was the hidden blame of only

knowing the bits he threw at my feet when Tane felt lazy. More than once I had

surprised him with coming up with new abilities out of my own, so that was the

last thing anyone should ever reproach me with. So I turned fully around to

glare at Anthony. "I guess I'll have to teach you a lesson. A duel it shall be,

then."

When his grin broadened even more I got the sick feeling that my flaring temper

had brought me into a nasty situation, as I didn't even know how good he was or

for how long he had already studied. The fact that until now Tane hadn't really

shown me much of attack or defence tactics only added up to that feeling of

unease. But I surely wouldn't back down - I'd rather burn my fingers once more,

maybe even literally.

Without further hesitation Anthony marched out of the room back into the great

entry hall, where he approached one of the assembled mages. At least I thought

him a mage until I noticed the different designs on his robe. It were similar

signs to the ones Tane had tattooed all over his body, the arcane symbols of a

fire sorcerer. My unease rose another notch when the man scrutinized me before

nodding, and then went to fetch some other examiners and curly exchanged some

words. Meanwhile I scanned the gathered crowd, but couldn't find a familiar

face, neither Tane nor Drake. As I knew Tane he would take his time shopping as

he always did, but it puzzled me a bit that Drake would let his student roam

around here all on his own.

Before I could think some more about that the sorcerer together with two mages,

one of them a woman, walked over to me, with Anthony trailing behind them. Once

more the sorcerer eyed me up and down, but as before it was not a leery gaze

like I had expected, but just a measured look as if he would study anything,

person or animal, that might be of some interest. "You are the one this young

man talked about rising to the challenge of a duel for the second grade of the

tests?" I only nodded, not knowing what else to do. As Tane had, as usual, not

provided any additional information about anything I was a bit at a loss here.

Before the sorcerer could venture on the female mage interrupted him. Her hair

was already greying at the sides, and her face showed wrinkles of age, yet she

still held herself with a strength that I partly envied her. "Before we rush

this on I would like to have a word with this young woman, alone. If you would

excuse us?" She didn't wait for the men to protest but instead slipped one hand

in a firm grip over my arm and gently led me out of earshot. I began to suspect

that it was usual with the mages to try to never let everyone know everything.

When she caught me frowning slightly she smiled a bit. "This is not to scare you

or anything, I just wanted to ask you some questions beforehand. You are Tane's

student, aren't you?" Apparently everyone around here knew more about me than I

even knew myself, but instead of protesting I just nodded. The woman seemed to

not have expected a different answer. "You have to know, opposed to many others

I'm keeping quite fond memories of your teacher, and I know that he is perfectly

capable of teaching you everything you need to know for the tests; yet I wonder

if the two of you had had enough time to get you ready for the second test, or

more specifically for a challenge duel. Do you even know what to expect of

this?"

I hesitated for a moment, then truthfully shook my head. The woman just sighed.

"I thought so. I can sense your potential, but you have just learned how to

reach all of it, that I am sure of. I won't say that you don't stand a chance

against Anthony, I have seen young sorceresses perform near miracles if forced

to, but I would advice you to step back from the challenge. Apart from that

little scoundrel no one will hold it against you, and you shouldn't rush things

just because he angered you."

I waited for more to come but since she seemed to anticipate an answer from me I

provided one. "I know that I lack a certain expertise, and maybe even skill, and

maybe it is wrong to act just because he angered me, but I am sure that I know

enough to at least show him that I'm better than he even dares to think. Do I

have anything to loose if he really wins?" I had expected her to scowl or

something, but the woman only smiled, and then shrugged. "Well, you will surely

get your load of burns and blisters, but apart from that I do not think that

there will be any further harm done, except to your respective egos."

That somehow made me smile, a gesture that the woman returned. "I guess I will

be able to bear that. When will it go on?" She briefly looked back to the others

we had left behind. "After all the other tests are finished, I'd say in an hour.

By then your teachers should be back as it would normally be the time to fetch

you - I don't know if that is a comfort for you or not. If you want to, you can

go to one of the patios to meditate until then." I wanted to reject that offer

as I never meditated, but when I reflected that talking to Anthony was the most

likely alternative, I just nodded and bade her to show me the way.

Without another word or even glace to the others she guided me out of the hall

and through a long corridor that opened into a shady court yard. A fountain in

the middle of the atrium splashed water into a pool, and most of the walls were

covered with ivy, adding to the expression of coolness. I thanked the woman and

went to sit down on a bench near the pool. Everything seemed so peaceful

and quiet here, something I had gotten used to over the last half year. Although

Tane never left me alone for long, even with him together we were the only two

people for miles at our meadow. Until today I hadn't realized how I relished the

feeling of being away from the stinking crowds of the cities.

After five minutes or so the current elevation of my mood began to wear off when

I began to realize what I had dealt myself there. I was kind of used to getting

myself into such situations, at least once a week I was able to anger Tane

enough to force him to apply stricter methods - at least that was what he always

accused me of afterwards when I was once more able to get enough air to start

cursing him. And I did curse a lot sometimes.

Maybe I was already getting a bit insane, but the memories of some of these

too-long nights made me smile. Even half a year after first meeting Tane I

wasn't fully comfortable with the kind of relationship we had, but for once he

was sensitive enough to never ask me about it. Oh, he took great pleasure in

getting me to admit that I sometimes really needed his way of dealing with my

needs, but he never dwelled on that particular topic. It seemed to suffice that

we both knew it.

Yet I felt that right now was not the time to let my mind drift into our

bedroom, so I focused on the task ahead of me. It might be true that Tane had

never shown me how to use my fire as a weapon, but that was not so much

different from other purposes. I knew how to regulate the intensity and warmth

of the flames that inevitably resulted in the different colours, from the

deepest red to most blinding yellow, or even a shade of blue for the really hot

flames. Being able to control my fire to this degree was not something they had

wanted for the first test, so it must be one of the hurdles of the second. As I

was rather comfortable with this degree of control the other things couldn't be

that much out of reach.

And another aspect of my way of learning made me rather confident. Tane had

known this form the start, I had needed more than two months to realize it, but

the best way for me to learn something was to see and feel it. Many a burn had

resulted from that, but I had gathered most of my knowledge in the same fashion

as I had leaned how to call forth the flames. Still, that first step had been

the hardest along the way, and although my confidence has never been very high,

I knew perfectly well what I was capable of and what not. Winning the duel might

as well lie outside my possibilities, but at least I knew that I wouldn't fight

to win, just to prove Anthony wrong. That should be enough to accomplish.

_________________

Too soon the woman returned to show me back to the main hall. She didn't speak a

single word, but from the lines in her face I judged that she was worried a bit. I

couldn't hold that against her, I myself worried quite a lot. When I re-entered

the hall my stomach chose to knot up, exchanging the uneasy feeling in my belly

for a big hard lump of fright. It didn't really help that all eyes turned on me

the moment I stepped into the room.

Although I knew that it was quite impossible I had the impression that the

audience had doubled in the time I had spent in the yard. I still didn't know

many people on sight, but of the three I did recognize two only added to my

panic. Drake and Lathea now stood next to Anthony who seemed to have an arrogant

smile etched on his face. I had anticipated seeing Drake around here, yet when

he gazed over at me I still felt a cold shiver run up my spine. He somehow had a

way that made me uneasy without even coming close to him. Lathea was once more

clad in an assortment of leather that made me avert my gaze the moment my eyes

dared to linger on her form. The last thing I needed now was anyone, least of

all her, catching me staring at her. So I chose to ignore that particular patch

of people and instead strolled over to Tane.

In a normal crowd of people he might not have been that recognizable, but most

mages were many years older and looked even more frail next to him. Knowing that

next to nothing of his bulk resulted from his clothes I once again considered

myself a rather lucky woman, yet right now I had more important things on my

mind.

Tane caught my gaze with his calm blue eyes and motioned me over to him, as if I

needed any encouragement. When I stopped in front of him I just stared at his

face, waiting for the inevitable scolding remark that simply had to come, but

once again his features stayed devoid of any emotion. Sometimes, like right now,

I hated it when he was able to hide his feelings so well. Then the moment passed

and his brows drew together in an expression of worry. "You really have a way of

getting yourself into trouble, did I ever tell you that?"

Somehow that eased some of the tension that was building up inside of me, and I

even managed a smile. "You tell me so at least once a week." For a moment his

eyes glinted with mischief, before he sobered once again. "At least you have

some experience with it." He stopped and scratched his chin while looking in the

general direction of my opponent. "Believe me, this won't be so much different

from what we sometimes engage in. It's a struggle of will, and he will use every

means to dominate you. He will hurt you, and you will struggle, and it will end

with you lying on the floor crying." If not for the mocking tone of his voice I

might have slapped him for that, but I knew that he didn't mean it the way it

sounded. Tane loved to state facts, and in so far I had to agree with him, that

was the likely outcome of everything. Still, I'd rather have him encourage me

than tell me the truth.

When he saw me glaring he put a reassuring hand on my shoulder and leaned a bit

closer. "Don't panic, he is not that much ahead of you. If I had known that you

are that ambitious I would have shown you some tricks to give you a head start,

but still you have a good chance of making a stand. Winning might be a bit off

as I guess he wouldn't have proposed a duel if he wasn't sure of his own

abilities, but you are not a rookie, either. Just use everything you have

against him."

Somehow his reassuring smile made me feel even more stupid. "I'm sorry that I

let him goad me into accepting the challenge. I hope you are not angry with me?"

For a moment Tane looked downright baffled. "Angry? Why should I be angry with

you?" The fact that he wasn't was not that surprising, but it puzzled me a bit

that he hadn't seen the question coming. "I don't know, maybe because I have

overstepped my place?"

Now he really frowned. "I thought we had that settled. Between you and me there

might be trouble if you act like that. Apart from that I would only encourage

you for such ventures. Sooner or later some of my attitude simply has to rub off

on you." Tane gave me another reassuring smile, then indicated his head towards

Anthony and the others. "You should get over there to show him that you are not

afraid of getting your ass busted. With me you are never that hesitant, and

believe me, you still have much more to fear from me than from such a cute

little boy." I only smirked. "I guess I'm going to invite trouble if I call him

that to his face." For that I was only rewarded with a chuckle. "See for

yourself. And remember, just use everything you have to your disposition. It

might be more than you think of right now."

With that Tane slapped me for a last time on the shoulder and inched me a bit

towards the others. It was kind of strange for him to abstain from slapping my

ass, but I had to give him credit, he behaved differently when someone was

around to watch. As there was nothing left to say I inhaled for a last time and

walked over to meet and greet the others. I reckoned that Drake wouldn't let the

possibility slip to harass me anyway, so I could as well go over to him

personally rather than have him shout insults at me from across the room.

When they saw me approaching all three fell silent. Anthony still looked down

his nose at me, Drake leered at me like he had done the first, and last, time we

had met, while Lathea seemed to study me with interest, like one might study a

bug that came crawling over. These people were just too polite.

For a moment I pondered Tane's words about his attitude having to rub off on me

eventually. Right now I envied him his easy way he always seemed to have with

people he evidently didn't like, but when I reflected back on the way he had

behaved when Drake and Lathea had visited us in the first week of my stay with

him I thought better of it. I would never act like him because I was different

in many a way, so it might be better to just be myself with these folks, as

well. So I forced the most inviting insincere smile on my face and ignored

everything but Anthony.

"Already thinking about backing down, or do you accept defeat right now?" Who

said I couldn't be cocky all of my own? It was never angry looks that resulted

in me being bound in the most uncomfortable positions.

Anthony's grin faded when he acknowledged my insult, but only blinked instead of

going literally for my throat. "I will all too soon have you begging for mercy,

then we'll see who's the one to accept defeat." I just kept my grin up. "I never

beg. Such a cute little guy like you will surely not get me to take that up." In

unison Anthony and Drake scowled at me, while a smile began to show up on

Lathea's face. Had she just developed an interest in annoying bugs? When she

caught my gaze her smile widened even more, yet she stayed quiet, what was fine

with me.

Before I could dig my own grave any deeper the sorcerer from before, together

with the female mage, came over to us. "Are the two of you still eager to engage

in a duel?" Both Anthony and I nodded, not disappointing any of the onlookers.

The sorcerer then beckoned with his hand towards the open space behind him. "We

will ward off half of the hall as the duel grounds. In these perimeters you are

allowed to use everything you are able to without having to fear to burn down

the whole building. Before we begin we will also cast a magical web over you

that will protect the vital areas of your bodies. Still your skin will blister

to a certain degree if you cannot avoid an attack, and you will feel the full

extend of pain that resulted from the attack, even if no outward signs will be

visible. Do you understand and agree to that?" Once more we nodded in unison,

probably the only time we would ever agree on something. The sorcerer then

extended his hands, and I could feel something enveloping me. Someone with more

experience or skill might have known what exactly he did; as I lacked either I

contented myself with the knowledge that it had to be the web he had spoken

about.

When he had finished whatever he had been doing the sorcerer beckoned us

forward, and Anthony and I walked over to the place he had gestured to before.

All around us the air briefly flared in a light blue haze. That I knew all too

well as Tane sometimes resorted to erecting such barriers when he wanted to

teach me something new. There was simply no use in burning down the whole meadow

with the hut included.

"Then let this duel begin. You will be judged by your abilities, not the direct

outcome of the duel, keep that in mind. Fairness is also a virtue that we mind."

With that the sorcerer stepped back into the audience and left Anthony and me

inside the now invisible cocoon of air. For a moment we just stared at one

another. At least I didn't want to start the contest. Let him start it and maybe

give me a chance to outmanoeuvre him. Anthony seemed hesitant for about five

seconds, then a satisfied smile came to his face as if he thought me a coward.

For once I didn't rise to the bait but just stared at him, trying to discern

what he was about to do.

When he raised one arm to point his hand in my general direction a beam of

searing flames rush at me it was easy for me to evade his attack. His aim hadn't

been very accurate, same as with the next two fire lances. Before he could shoot

a forth beam at me I briefly concentrated and a cloud of flame sprang to life in

front of him, trying to catch him. With a shriek he hopped back and let the

flames die all of their own. The bewildered look he shot me made me wonder a

bit. Was it just surprise that I had done anything at all, or was it something

different?

Somehow my counterattack seemed to have broken the spell of hesitancy, because

even before the flames had winked out of existence he once more pointed his hand

at me, now with his fingers spread, and sent another bout of fire at me. This

one was much faster and somehow caught me off guard. Before I could duck a solid

ball of flame collided with me, resulting in fire running over my whole body. It

was just searing agony. For a moment I couldn't even think, it hurt so much. Yet

even before I had enough air in my lungs to scream I blindly lashed out with my

fire in the general direction where I estimated Anthony to be. A choking couch

showed me that I had at least driven him back another step.

When I regained the full control over myself once more I was cowering on the

floor, pain still racing over my skin. Yet when I opened my eyes to look at my

arms the skin was only mildly reddened, and one touch affirmed that my hair

hadn't caught fire as it should have. Apparently the safety nets proved to work

just fine.

Slowly I got to my feet again, trying to ignore my aching skin, and stared over

at Anthony. Half of his face and one arm had a slightly red colour, indicating

that I indeed hat hit, yet it seemed to only have fuelled his anger. Now the

gaze he directed at me was laced with pure anger.

Once more he extended his hand towards me, but now that I knew that he

apparently needed the gestures for his magic to work I knew what was to come and

planted a pillar of fire between us, so that it obstructed his view of me. With

a mental shove I set the pillar rolling towards him, but it was too slow and

just puffed out of existence when he swirled his hand in front of his body,

making the air around the fire shimmer when he conjured up bonds of air to

extinguish the flames. Instead of attacking once more I just stayed where I was

and regarded him as to what he would do next. Already I felt the strain of

controlling the fire bearing down heavily on me.

Once more Anthony took the time to stare at me, then he raised his hands in a

dramatic gesture over his head and brought them down towards me. For a moment

nothing happened, then a wall of blinding bright light came wavering at me. I

only had the time to gasp and throw my hands up to ward off the flames, then

they bore down on me. The shriek that tore itself out of my throat sounded quite

inhuman, even to my ears.

Only dimply I felt my body hitting the floor when my muscles gave way. My whole

body was one throbbing pain, and I did my best to pull my knees up to my chest

to hug myself and curl up as much as possible. I had been so dumb to ...

Anthony's boot landed squarely in my back and sent me rolling, making a new wave

of pain roll up from my spine to my head. Before he could kick me once more I

scrambled to my feet, all the while backing away from him. He came after me,

trying to reach for me with his hand. My back hit the solid wall of air that

bordered our ground. Panic flared up inside of me, and it must have shown on my

face, because he began to grin in a rather sadistic kind of way. When his hand

was coming near to my face flames began to dance over his fingers. I tried to

evade him by sliding to one side but he was faster, grapping my throat before I

could dash away.

The moment his fingers tightened around my throat I nearly choked on the pain

that radiated from his touch. Desperately I brought my hands up to grasp his

wrist to somehow make him loosen his grip, but he only grinned all the more. I

couldn't breathe anymore, what only added to my increasing panic. He was not

only going to teach me a lesson, he was about to kill me! Why didn't anyone do

something?

My vision began to fade on the edges and a quite familiar feeling welled up in

my stomach. What was this all about, why did I loose my nerves so fast? Okay, he

had me in a sort of death grip, but I had my hands free, and contrary to him I

didn't even need my hands to scorch him. If Tane had taught me one thing, then

it was that there always was a chance as long as I kept my wits. And although it

might sound queer, something deep inside of me even welcomed the pain that

Anthony afflicted on me.

With new confidence coming up inside of me I stilled my senseless writhing and

stared at my opponent's face until I caught his gaze. I could see triumph in his

gaze, that and a deep-routed malevolence that I didn't understand, but that was

not really necessary. He simply knew that I was helpless and at his mercy. What

a jerk.

I tightened my grip on his arm and willed my flames to come forth, fuelled by

the uneasy feeling in my stomach. It was the easiest way for me to call forth

the flames, mainly because Tane provided an endless supply for that unease, yet

I often couldn't control the outcome of it. Right now I didn't need control, I

needed action, and that I could provide.

With my pulse racing in my ears and my lungs screaming for air I kept my gaze

settled on Anthony's face and then let all my anger and desperation rush

forward, bringing up the flames. In a rush violet light ran up from my hands

over his arms to envelope his body. For a moment nothing happened. He was about

to laugh me in the face and call it a bluff when the violet flames all over him

exploded in one powerful commotion, sending him flying backwards, away from me.

Luckily he let go of my throat, so that he didn't take me with him.

Panting heavily I leant back against the wall of air, massaging my burning

throat with one hand. Anthony lay in a crumbled heap at the other end of our

confinement, writhing and swatting at non-existing flames. I just looked down on

him while I tried to catch my breath. Adrenaline cursed through my veins and

made my muscles twitch, yet I knew that this last rush of energy was all I had

had left in me. If he came once more for me I would be unable to set up any kind

of resistance. I had hurt him badly, but it was no real surprise when Anthony

finally stilled and then gathered himself to stand up once more. Now my defiance

was the only thing I could call for my defence.

He might be arrogant, but apparently Anthony was no fool, because when he

advanced again he stopped well away from me. He slowly extended his hands

towards me as if to show me that even if I saw it coming I would be unable to

get away and waited until he saw that knowledge in my eyes. Then he called forth

a near storm of fire than seemed to come faster than light. I just stood my

ground, balled my hands to fists and prayed that someone would stop him before

he killed me.

The charring pain brought me down on the floor again, making me clamp down my

jaws to keep from screaming. More bouts of flame rained down on me, making the

pain raise above any tolerable level, yet my jaws were too cramped to let the

screams out that tried to build up. Inwardly I begged for this to stop, but I

wouldn't let him the satisfaction of knowing just how horrible it hurt.

The flames abruptly stopped, and after the pain began to lessen I dared open my

eyes, hoping for someone to have put a stop to all of this. Still, the wall of

air at my back was as solid as it had been before, so it must be something else.

When I looked up I saw Anthony standing in front of me, staring down, his face a

mask of hatred and rancour. "Are you giving up, you stupid bitch?" He was

panting heavily as if it were him who had been writhing in pain, and an odd

desperation lay thick in his voice. Yet before I could do more than scowl up at

him he sent another beam of flame down on me, sending me squirming once more.

When I still didn't scream he began to shout various obscenities at me, but that

didn't provoke me one bit. I just wished that I had a little bit of energy left

to teach him a lesson, but for the day that was evidently his job.

Once more the flames stopped if not his cursing, and suddenly the barrier behind

me disappeared. I let myself flop down on my back and dared to open my eyes.

Anthony was right now being surrounded by three people, one of whom I could

identify as the sorcerer who had explained about the duel before. They were

evidently trying to hold him back, but when he realized that it had ended

Anthony stopped and just stared down at me. I let my eyes drift close again to

make it easier to calm down.

I felt someone advancing towards me and opened my eyes to look straight up into

Tane's face. His features were bare of any emotion, yet his eyes bore a certain

amount of sympathy. I couldn't bring a reassuring smile on my lips, but instead

tried to get up. I even managed it, with only a low moan escaping my throat.

I hurt all over, but as this was no entirely new sensation I was able to cope with it.

When I looked around me once more I caught Anthony staring at me with a certain

satisfaction. Now that I couldn't let pass uncommented, now that I was

relatively safe again. "That's all you can manage, cutie? All just hollow words,

nothing to back these." I nearly swayed then but could hold myself together once

more. Tane apparently judged that for what it was and laid a comforting, and

very steadying, hand on my shoulder, making it seem like a gesture of

affectionate backup. For a moment I longed for Tane to embrace me and cradle me

in his arms, the way he often did after making me nearly go insane from pain,

but he would never do that in public. I'd have to wait for some privacy later

on.

Even from across the room I could see Anthony glaring at me, but then Drake

walked up to join his student and in so doing prevented Anthony from uttering

any further stupid comments. Meanwhile the sorcerer came over to me, briefly

looking me up and down. "Any serious injuries?" I shook my head. "Nothing that

wouldn't go away with a good night's sleep." The sorcerer nodded and walked back

to the other gathered group. I took the time to turn my head to once more look

at Tane. When I caught his gaze I mouthed a silent "thank you", which made him

grin briefly.

The voice of the sorcerer drew my attention back to the others. "I call this duel

ended, with Anthony as the winner." Anthony grinned at me in triumph, but

when he saw that I didn't react to it the smile soon faded.

Apparently his victory was only worth something if I accepted defeat. "He has

proven his talent and has by this earned the status of someone passing the

second test of challenge." Some of the gathered people cheered, although I for

once thought that he had had a simply game. The sorcerer didn't let them

interrupt him, though. "Yet he has not been the only one to show considerable

talent and control, so I call for the same status to be applied to Jeanne, too.

She might lack a certain amount of experience, but her control is better than to

be expected of someone who passes the second test by normal means, so that

status shall be hers."

I was kind of dumbfounded when I realized what these words meant, but when I

turned to look at Tane he only smiled and gently kneaded my shoulder. Anthony

meanwhile looked as if he had bitten into a bitter fruit, and Drake began to

debate with the sorcerer. I just felt light-headed all of a sudden. How could

this be possible? I hadn't been able to deflect any of his attacks, and only

twice succeeded in hitting him - how could they possibly reward me with a passed

second test?

My bewilderment stayed through the next hour. Many people came forward to

congratulate me, and more than once I heard someone telling Tane that they

hadn't believed him capable of teaching me so much in such a short time. Tane

seemed to realize that I was still in a haze and began to take our leave as soon

as possible. On the way back to our quarters I didn't even realize that he tried

to talk with me. This all had to be a very strange dream, but a dream

nevertheless.

Back in our room Tane guided me over to sit on the bed and then excused himself

once more to leave me alone. For several minutes I just stared at the wall

opposite me, then I lay down and resumed staring, this time at the ceiling. My

mind still struggled to process the information, and with the pain seeping back

into my limp muscles I resigned myself to not thinking at all. That seemed to be

the best thing to do.

After about ten minutes, but it could also have been close to two hours, Tane

returned with a bucket full of water and a washcloth. Without uttering a single

word he heaved me up into a sitting position and helped me out of my clothes, to

begin to wash my body with the wet cloth. The water felt cool on my burning

skin. While he washed my back I looked down at my arms. The skin looked just

like after a normal sunburn, with no blisters or darker patches indicating

scorch marks. Still it hurt a lot more.

When he was finished Tane guided me to lay down and got up on the bed beside me.

I stopped his attempt to embrace me and instead plucked at his robe. "Off." He

smiled about me being so short-spoken and complied, taking off his clothes before

drawing me against his body. I melted against him and sighed in comfort, even if

my body hurt even more with him touching me. But right now I needed being

comforted more than less pain. All too soon I fell asleep when my body claimed

the dearly needed rest, and Tane did nothing to prevent me from sleeping.

______________

I woke up to a horse neighing in the streets outside. It was an unusual sound as

we had no horses up at the meadow so it brought me wide awake in an instant.

Judging from the amount of light that came streaming through the window and the

already elevated temperature it had to be close to midday already. I had nearly

slept a whole day through.

When I looked around the room I found one small detail missing. Although the

sheets beside me were rumpled I saw no sign of Tane being around, so I chose to

stay dozing for another fifteen minutes. My body just felt sore, but as the pain

was gone I was glad to be able to indulge in further laziness for now. From what

I knew I had nothing better to do than stay in bed, so why bother getting up?

Before long I heard someone outside, and the door opened to let Tane in. He

looked freshly washed and groomed, with his chin shaven and his hair still damp.

When he saw me lazily smiling up at him he returned that smile and came over to

the bed, bending down over me and kissed me softly on the lips. "Good morning,

lovely. Ready to get up, or would you rather stay a bit longer in bed?" I made a

show of stretching my body, which inevitably let the thin blanket slip down to

pool around my waist, bringing my breasts out in full view. He just took that

for an invitation and bent down further to gently kiss first my right nipple,

then my left. When he knelt down on the bed next to me I brought my hand up to

lazily intertwine it in his hair. "Haven't you just been bathing? That's all for

nothing of we are going to fuck now."

Tane lifted his head to look up at my face, a smile playing around the corners

of his mouth. "Your rude language just urges me on, you know that?" I frowned

while I let him edge me to the middle of the bed. We've had some arguments in

the past because I never titled our activities with "making love" or something

like that. It was not as if he would mind, but he had expressed his mock concern

about my moral high grounds, or rather the lack of those. I had just shrugged

back then, just as I frowned at him now. I wouldn't tell him that I didn't

consider laying with him as something other people would describe as a token of

their feelings for their beloved, so I wouldn't entitle it with something like

that, yet I thought he knew how I meant it. It just unnerved me a bit that he

brought that up now.

When he saw that I didn't comment on it Tane straightened again to slip out of

his robes. Contrary to our dressing habits at home he wore a shirt and pants

underneath so he had to get up once more to undress. I just stayed where I was

and watched the muscles on his torso flexing. Even after looking at myself in

the mirror there was enough doubt in me left to make me wonder why of all people

he chose me for bedding.

Standing nude next to the bed Tane haltered once more and gazed down at me while

idly stroking his cock. "I just came back from a stroll in town. Lezaro, the man

responsible for the tattoos according to the tests of challenge would see you

the hour after midday if you still want the signs on your body." It was just

like him to arrange everything without asking me if I even wanted to, but as I

for once had no objections I just nodded. When he saw that I didn't protest Tane

crawled back on the bed to come to rest next to me. "Already some ideas what you

want?" I shook my head. "No, but you said that this Lezaro might advise me on

that?"

Tane nodded and then moved closer so that his body bumped against me. "I guess

so." He blinked briefly, as if something had come to his mind, and reached up to

cup my jaw in one hand. "I seem to have rushed our departure a bit. I haven't

packed any ... equipment." I felt myself grinning in spite of myself. "How could

that possibly have happened, least of all to you?" He just growled at the

mocking tone of my voice. "It's just like you to tease me because of it. Do you

think we can manage once without it?" That brought a partly involuntary laugh

forth from me. "Are you earnest? Do you really think that you can bring it on

without tying me up beforehand? I doubt it." Tane just raised his eyebrows in

response to my mocking grin. "I guess I'll have to prove you wrong once more."

With that he moved even closer and began to passionately kiss my neck, moving

his hands to come to rest around my body. While he stroked my back I wriggled

closer to him and slung my arms around his neck, sighing with content when his

hands moved down to knead my behind. When he gently moved me to lie on my back,

he slid into me and began to move above me, all the while caressing my body and

kissing me I reckoned that something had to be askew if he put that much effort

into playing nice, but who was I to protest? Maybe he was just saving his strength

for later, when we got back to the hut. Who was I to predict his motifs?

____________________

The sun was burning down on the city when we made our way back to the testing

buildings. Tane had explained that Lezaro worked in the cellars beneath the

smithy of the complex. What a school for mages needed a smithy for I couldn't

even begin to guess, but I didn't ask as Tane seemed to deem that enough

information. A slight breeze set the skirt of my new dress billowing. It was one

of Tane's purchases, and I still felt a bit uneasy about it, yet I had to admit

that for this climate it was the best one could wear. The dress had no sleeves

and the light fabric fell loosely down my body, stretching a bit over the mounds

of my breasts. A thin belt gathered the folds of cloth around my waist. All in

all it seemed to emphasise the feminine contours of my body more than it

concealed them.

When we entered the smithy, a small building on the far left of the whole

complex, I felt anxiety welling up inside of me. It was not laced with fright

like yesterday before the test, but very similar to what I felt when Tane was

about to tie me up. Maybe I should have tried to talk with him about it, or

simply refused to go on, as I partly did this because I thought he wanted me to

do it, but over the last minutes I had reflected on this subject once again. It

was not really devotion to my teacher that brought me here, I somehow wanted to

have these tattoos, now that I had gained the second rank so fast even more than

before. But still, I was uneasy with the prospect of letting my body be marred.

Tane seemed to feel my hesitancy, and when we entered the building he took my

hand in his and guided me over to the back were a small flight of wooden stairs

went down to the basement. Before he went down he stopped once more and looked

at me. "You really don't have to. You can always say no, even after talking to

Lezaro. It's just an opportunity. Now that you passed the tests you can always

come back here for the tattoos, or decide to wait till after the third test. I

myself had them made years after I passed the tests, you don't have to rush

things." Somehow his soothing tone calmed me a bit and I found the strength to

step down the first stairs on my own. "Let's at least talk to him. But rest

assured, I won't say yes to anything I don't want." That made him smile as I had

hoped and Tane guided me down into the basement.

Below we stepped into a big room that somehow reminded me of a dungeon, although

a rather peaceful one. Several tables with an assortment of tools were stacked

at one side, and chairs and benches stood around, evidently serving as work

benches. Apart from us two men were inside, one of them about Tane's age with

short black hair and a bulk of muscles that made him belong rather to the smithy

above, and the other old and wiry, yet with intent grey eyes that seemed to take

in everything around him.

While the younger of the two only nodded towards us, the old man came to greet

us, moving with an agility that belied his age and apparent frailty. "Be greeted

young sorceress, I be Lezaro. I be grateful to see you coming here, for I be a

master of this arts. Not many women that be so beautiful as you be coming here."

He bent down over my hand and breathed a kiss down on it, making me going red

instantly. Lezaro was polite enough to ignore that, and instead went to Tane to

greet him. "Nice to see you again, Itch here tells me you be showing up when I

be gone for breakfast this day. How you be faring?" Tane and the old man

exchanged some pleasantries while I wondered a bit about the strange manner of

speaking Lezaro seemed to use.

Soon they finished bantering and Lezaro turned his attention back to me. "They

be telling me that you be showing great talent, already be a sorceress of the

second grade. You be here to get the signs of your rank in the two colours, or

be it just black?" I thought at that for a moment before answering honestly. "I

don't know. I don't even know what I really want. Tane said you might help me

decide?"

Lezaro's face lit up when he heard the words. "Oh, yes, yes, you be wise to ask

me for opinion. You just don't listen to Itch over there, he be sort of biased

when it be concerning beautiful women." The other man just growled something

under his breath while Lezaro beckoned me to come over to one of the tables.

"Then let me look at your body if you be thinking about getting something other

than just on your arms. The signs be invisible on every person, the ones that

best be fitting them. I be able to see them, though, and bring them to life."

I just scowled briefly, then undid my belt and slipped the tunic-like dress over

my head. When Lezaro beckoned me to go on I felt a bit silly, undressing

completely in front of these two strangers, but as I didn't want to appear too

modest I undid my bodice and placed it next to the dress, at last slipping out

of my panties, too. For a moment I wondered if I should try to cover my breasts

and sex, but that would be just stupid. Still, the lingering gaze of Itch, the

second man, made my unease rise the moment I was naked. Lezaro just looked at my

body like a mason might look at a yet untouched rock sitting in front of him.

The old man took his time looking at me, then went closer, but stopped before

touching my body. "May I? Just if it don't be uncomfortable for you to be

touched by someone you do not be knowing well." I shook my head and beckoned him

to venture on. He reached for my belly first, gently prodding my flesh, then ran

his hands up to let his fingers dance over my breasts. It was a strange kind of

touching, as if he was probing my skin rather than really touching me.

When he was finished he briefly looked down on my pubic region, where stubble

was sprouting as I had not shaved in the last three days. "You do be shaving

your sex regularly?" Once again I felt colour seeping up into my cheeks but

nodded. "Twice to three times a week. Why do you ask?" I just couldn't hold the

question back, but Lezaro didn't scold me for it. "It just be a question, as it

do not be making much sense to paint the body where it don't be visible." That

only made me frown. "You think even down there ...?" I stopped when he looked at

my face once more, smiling slightly. "If you want to. I be having some ideas.

You be having a lovely body, there be much we can do." He turned around to the

other man. "Be so kind and bring in the book, Itch. I be showing her what I be

capable of."

Itch went into another room and shortly returned with a big tome. Lezaro took it

from him and opened it on one of the tables, showing me some of the drawings it

contained. "I be thinking flames and roses be fitting best. You like roses?" I

nodded, staring transfixed at some of the drawings. They were much more

intricate than any I had ever seen before, every one so detailed that they

nearly looked life-like. I wondered how it was possible to get something like

that on human skin.

After leafing through the book Lezaro turned back to me and told me to stand up

straight. Then he began to explain what he had in mind. "You be young, so it be

best to keep the signs to limited areas only. I be thinking about a rose here,"

he gestured at my belly, tracing diagonally up to my right breast, "with the

petals here." He traced his fingers over my breast, slightly to the other side.

"Maybe some flames behind, or intertwined in the blossom. And flames running

down, with the stem be disintegrating into fire, to go down here," he indicated

the top of my pubic triangle, "to dissipate over your sex. Looking like this."

He leafed once more through the book to show me some more drawings. They all

looked even frailer and more beautiful than the ones he had shown me before. I

was kind of awed by all of this.

"So what you be thinking about it?" He first looked at me, and when I didn't

answer his gaze travelled to Tane, who only shrugged. "It's her body, I don't

have a say with it. Still I think it fits her. Don't forget the thorns on the

rose." That kind of made me frown again and broke the spell. I then nodded my

agreement, making Lezaro smile. "Good choice. You be already sure of the

colours? We can be shading it in blacks and blues, giving outline and hue to the

flames and flower, and after passing the test add yellows and reds to flames.

You be wanting a red rose, or other colour?" Once again I had to think about it,

but as I was not that fond of red I shook my head to the last. "The rose not

red." The old man just smiled. "White then? With soft blue to give it a

mysterious look? Be that to your liking?" I nodded, still a bit hesitant, yet

the idea of the whole thing appealed to me.

Next Lezaro had me stand in front of a tall mirror and began to draw the

outlines of everything with black and blue colour. It was marvellous what he

accomplished with only a few sketches. Still the anxiety stayed and made me

tremble ever so slightly. This didn't escape Lezaro and before going on he

stopped and laid a supporting hand on my shoulder. "You do be having fear?" I

shook my head, but then nodded. "A bit." He only smiled. "It do not be hurting

much, you be getting used to it soon. I be starting at your belly, there it not

be hurting much. You be comfortable with I be shaving you, or you be wanting to

do it for yourself?" Considering how my hand would surely continue shaking, plus

the fact that nine times out of ten it was Tane who did the shaving, I gladly

let Lezaro do that task.

I was beckoned over to one of the benches. Lezaro let Itch put a pillow on it

and then told me to get up with the pillow under my back so that my back was

arched, elevating my belly and making my breasts jut out just a bit. When I lay

down he told me to inch down towards the ends of the bench and rested my feet on

two additional blocks of wood to the sides, slightly higher than the rest of my

body. The position I was in was kind of prone, leaving everything open to their

looks, but I told myself that I was acting silly when I felt a bit ashamed. It

didn't really get better when Lezaro gently prodded my pussy lips and began to

remove the stubble, but I had to hold it for him that he didn't even once touch

me in a obscene kind of way. It was just as if he were the exact opposite of

Tane who couldn't once touch me anywhere without turning it into an intimate

caress.

When he was satisfied with my hairless crotch Lezaro went over to one of the

tables and returned with some ink jars and an assortment of needles. After

placing them on another table next to me he turned back to me once more. "You be

able to hold still for long, or you be more comfortable with being restrained?"

I could feel a frown creasing my brows together, yet before I could even shoot a

glance at Tane Lezaro smiled. "Please do be not offended, but I do be knowing

Tane for quite a while, and I do be recognizing the signs on or wrists and legs.

It not be a question of your likes, I do not be interested in such stories. It

just be the question of you keeping still, as I need my concentration for

working, not for keeping you still. That be your doing."

I thought about that for a moment. Tane often mockingly complained about me

being unable to hold still out of my own, which was mostly correct. So it was

not much of a decision. "Will you untie me if I tell you too?" Lezaro nodded

without hesitation. "Of course, I also be stopping when you do be wanting a

break. You just be telling me." When I nodded my agreement he went to fetch some

leather straps. I just rolled my eyes at Tane. "Say, do you always have to

involve me into that, even when we are away from home?" Tane only chuckled and

sat down on one of the tables while Lezaro bound my hands and arms to the bench

over my head and secured my torso with a strap over my hips and one running

beneath my breasts. "We be shifting the straps while working. You be okay with

that?" I nodded, indicating that I had nothing to complain about.

Lezaro then bent down over my belly and rubbed the skin with a cloth dunked in

some sort of alcohol before taking a rather thin pen and started to elaborate

the designs he had before scratched on my skin. When he was satisfied he

exchanged the pen for needle and ink and began his work. The first few times he

picked the ink stained needle into my flesh I kind of flinched, but it didn't

really hurt, it was more of an annoyance. Maybe it just felt less than I had

anticipated because I was, frankly, used to worse. If it didn't get any worse on

more sensitive areas I wouldn't have any problems with it. Still I was kind of

glad for the restraints as I had something to keep my hands occupied, and

couldn't jump when Lezaro accidentally reached a ticklish spot.

It took him about and hour to finish the first design on my belly. When he had

finished he loosened the restraints and let me look down on it. In awe I gazes

down on the stem of the rose, adorned with fine yet curved thorns going over

into flames. The whole thing was set in deep black and a rich blue, yet I

couldn't even say where one colour ended and the other began. He really did a

good job in shading his tattoos. When he saw my awe Lezaro just smiled and asked

me if I were ready to venture on. As I was rather eager to see the rest finished

I hurried to lie back down.

The next hours I spent being strapped to the work bench, waiting for the next

time he would stop to let me get a good look on his work. It was really amazing.

By the time he came to my breast I was already used to the sting of the needles

that it didn't bother me at all. I nearly drifted to sleep several times

although I was still a bit nervous. After finishing the rose and flames on my

breast he moved down between my legs and worked the designs from my belly to

just above my sex. There he stopped again for a longer break, for once to get

something to eat and to give me the opportunity to move my legs again.

I spent about five minutes in front of the mirror while Lezaro and Itch went up

into the smithy to get something for dinner. When they had left Tane walked over to

come stand behind me. He lightly settled his hands on my hips while I traced the

tattoos tentatively with my fingers. It was simply marvellous. I knew from the

way Tane's tattoos looked that Lezaro really must be good at this, but mine were

even more intricate. When he had first brought the idea up I hadn't thought I

would find them so appealing. I didn't dare thinking how everything would look

after adding even more colour when I passed the final test.

We didn't talk while we were alone, but from the way Tane stared at my body I

could tell that he was as enticed as I. Just when I was about to ask him what he

thought about it the door to the smithy was opened once more, and Tane let go of

me to sit back down on the table he had been residing on the whole afternoon. It

must have been night my now, but he didn't seem tired of that particular place.

When I looked towards the stairs Itch and Lezaro returned, being accompanied by

the sorcerer who had managed my duel with Anthony. For a moment my shame went up

once again, but when he only glanced at me for a second before turning back to

Tane I kind of relaxed. Tane seemed as puzzled to see him here as I was, yet

greeted him warmly. Now I even got the name of the sorcerer, Avelas. After

exchanging pleasantries with Tane he once again congratulated him and me on my

state of learning, yet seemed to hold something back. All the while he darted

glances at me out of the corner of his eye. As always Tane saw this as plain as

if Avelas would have stared straight at me and finally asked why he really had

come down here.

At first Avelas looked offended as if his personal congratulation should have

been enough of a reason, but then turned fully to me, while still talking to my

teacher. "I heard that you were here for the tattoos. Knowing you that didn't

really surprise me. And as I have seen her yesterday, although fully clothed, I

thought I might offer you my knowledge and skills concerning certain ...

matters." Now that really made me frown, same as Tane, but him apparently out of

other reasons than me. He seemed to know what the sorcerer meant by that.

When he saw my blank look Tane explained. "I guess Avelas is hinting about the

way your body is formed. As I have a limited talent for healing, he is kind of

skilled in ... tinkering around with the way people are formed." At that

explanation Avelas nearly reeled. "What do you mean by tinkering, I'd rather say

I know how to make pleasant forms look even more pleasant." That didn't really

make my frown disappear. When Avelas looked at me again I finally spoke. "So you

are suggesting that there is something wrong with my body?" Just what I needed

now, confirmation of my deepest fears. Behind Avelas' back Tane's brows drew

together at the expression on my face, but he didn't say a thing.

Avelas hurried to shake his head. "Oh, no, nothing is wrong, yet some of your

womanly features could be brought a bit more in the open. And as I'm owing Tane

a favour for years already I wanted to propose meddling a bit with your body to

pay my debt." I was still not convinced, same as Tane. "You don't really owe me

anything Avelas, they would have caught me with or without you anyway." The

sorcerer looked downright unhappy. "Then call it an offer between long time

friends. She has earned it yesterday." Meanwhile Lezaro made a great show of not

listening to us while eating a bread with cheese on it.

Even after Avelas' words Tane didn't look particularly interested. "And what

would you change? I like her body the way it is. I'm not a lover of too big

breasts, and I guess as her body is evenly proportioned there is nothing to be

tinkered with. And she's by far too young to have developed any wrinkles or

other signs of age." Avelas studied me once more, and I could see on his face

that he didn't agree with Tane. Without asking he went over to me, coming to a

halt at my back, and gripped my breasts from behind, lifting my globes a bit.

"Just look at her tits, they would be much nicer if a bit firmer and fuller. And

they sag, that's just marring her looks."

I simply couldn't hold a look of anxiety mixed with fear off my face. When Tane

saw my expression his brows drew together in anger. "Her breasts don't sag, they

are just not the buds of a prepubescent girl. There is nothing wrong with the

way they look. Being bigger or firmer would be inconvenient." I didn't ask why,

but a sudden unbidden image of ropes came to my mind. It didn't really help when

Avelas squeezed my breasts again, it just raised my discomfort.

Still, the sorcerer didn't give up. "Now I know you just tell her that because

you want her to feel at ease with you. But between the two of us we know that

she could use some turnover. And look at her hips, they are just too fleshy, and

the flesh around her waist and belly it too loose. What have you done, set her

on a regiment lately?" I felt my face going red again, yet when I tried to

squirm out of his grip Avelas just held me tighter. The anger in Tane's eyes

raised another notch, yet when he spoke on his voice was calm and composed. "It

is right that she lost some weight lately, but not by force. And her body will

adjust to it soon, stretching the now loose skin taught over her flesh. Now stop

criticising her, I know the kind of women you like, and they are clearly not my

type, and they don't look any way I want Jeanne to look. Can we agree on that?"

Avelas still seemed reluctant, but then nodded and let me go. Yet before I could

step away from him he swatted my ass lightly. "Maybe the two of you should have

a talk in private. Maybe she doesn't agree with you?"

Tane's anger seemed to disappear and without another word he indicated the next

room with his head. I followed him there, stopping just inside the door so I

could look back at Avelas who looked far too satisfied with himself. Before I

could utter a single word Tane took me by the shoulders and leant his head down

so that our foreheads nearly touched. His gaze was directed intently at my face.

"Now listen to me, I meant every word. We had that conversation yesterday, and

I'm still sticking to it. You don't need someone like him to tinker with your

body. It just hurts, and more often than not distorts more than it corrects."

Still, there was something in his voice that made me swallow hard before

answering.

After a quick look down on my body I met Tane's eyes again. "But he's right. At

least you think he's right in some aspects, even if you are content with the way

I look. I could be looking better." My voice was only loud enough to barely let

him understand me because I feared that it would tremble if I spoke any louder.

A frown stole itself across his forehead, and after a short moment he finally

nodded. "I've not lied to you until now, so I won't start now. Yes, there are

things that could be different. But I meant my words from before, your body is

okay as it is, everything else belongs rather to the world of imagination and

dreams. I never thought for a moment that I'd rather exchange you for another

woman."

I sighed, feeling kind of blank after his admittance. "But I won't stay with you

forever. What will other men think of my body? You might be able to ignore

several shortcomings, but others are not so lenient." Now he frowned again,

looking even a bit displeased. "By the time you will go away from me you will be

a full sorceress, a woman of considerable power, believe me, no sane man will

spare a thought if he feels attracted to you whether your boobs sag a bit or

not. A confident attitude will get you farther than firmer boobs." Still I didn't

fully believe him. "But firmer boobs won't be a hindrance, either." Again he

hesitated, then sighed but didn't answer. I waited for another minute, then

responded for him. "I know that you find the thought thrilling. It's okay with

me as long as he doesn't alter too much. I don't want additional back aches or

something like that. But a bit more up here and a bit less down there couldn't

be false. Or am I wrong?"

I had even sounded a bit desperate, and when I met his gaze once more I saw a

certain amount of pain and sympathy there. "Don't say things like that, I don't

want you to criticize yourself, or even think that there is something to

criticize about your body." I forced a smile on my face. "But I am right, am I

not?" He just nodded, although he looked kind of miserable. I just sighed. "Hey,

don't look so sad. Ever thought about that it might enforce my self-esteem when

I consider myself a tad bit more desirable?" He didn't answer for quite some

time, but then nodded again. "Okay, if you see it that way. So what exactly

should I tell him? What would you change on yourself?"

I thought about that for a moment. "As he suggested, my breasts could be a bit

firmer, and maybe sag less. And I couldn't be sad if my thighs and bottom were

firmer, too. That's all. There couldn't be much wrong with that, now?" Again he

nodded, and after a last glace into my eyes he let go of me and walked back into

the room. Avelas grinned in delight when Tane voiced my indications in a more

sophisticated way.

The sorcerer listened intently, then nodded and beckoned me over to him once

more. "Just stand still, I'll do the rest. Just don't cry too much." I eyed him

with all the contempt I could manage while the sorcerer stepped around me once

again. When he touched my hips I nearly flinched. His hands were burning hot,

nearly searing my flesh. The muscles underneath my skin began to ripple and

cramp, making me nearly whimper. It got even worse when he touched the flesh of

my breasts. Tears welled up in my eyes and threatened to spill down my cheeks,

but I could hold them back. I wouldn't show weakness in front of this particular

man.

The pain ended as fast as it hand begun, and Avelas stepped back around me to

look at my body once more. "Looks much better this way. Now what do you think?"

He turned around to Tane, looking for a reaction. Tane's face was bare of any

emotion, and his eyes stayed fixed on me. Hesitantly I turned over to walk to

the mirror to gaze at me. For a moment I couldn't really see any difference, but

then saw the subtle changes, just as the sorcerer had said. I had just thought

there would be more to it. Still I was relieved to see that apart from my

breasts looking a bit firmer everything was as it should be. Meanwhile Tane and

Lezaro talked in hushed voices all the while. Turning back around to Tane I

briefly nodded my head, indicating that it was okay.

Tane then turned around to talk some more with the sorcerer, while Lezaro came

over to me. "We should bring this to an end, if you be ready once more?" I just

nodded and let him guide me back to the work bench. Once more he strapped me to

it, securing me even tighter than before. I didn't complain as I reckoned that

it was more important to hold still if he worked on my more sensitive parts.

While he resumed picking me with the needles a dull ache spread from my hips and

breasts, making me feel a bit uncomfortable.

While Lezaro was working, the sorcerer took his leave, leaving us alone once

more. Tane returned to his table, but didn't stay there and instead came over to

watch the old man working. Maybe he just used it for an excuse to gaze at my

body. I knew that he liked that a lot. With nothing else to do I just stared at

him and the ceiling, waiting for it to end.

It took Lezaro about another hour to finish his work, and when he finally got up

from between my legs I sighed with relief. He had been quite gentle, but still,

my pussy lips where he had nicked them tingled a bit. Yet when I waited for him

to release me Lezaro just looked at Tane, and then back to me. When I frowned up

at my teacher, his face was once more bare of any emotion. Not a good sign, as I

had had to learn.

"What's the matter? Why don't you release me?" I saw the old man flinch on the

range of my vision, yet my eyes stayed on Tane. "Tane? Why?" Tane just looked

down on me, then nodded at Lezaro. "Do what I asked you about before. I assure

you, she won't struggle, at least not with her full capacity." This just didn't

bode well. Yet before I could give it another try to enquire what this was all

about strong hands gripped my head, and I had only time for a last gasp before

Itch forced a gag into my mouth. That was the moment something inside of me

broke loose, yet when I tried to touch my inner magic to release some of my fire

to break loose of the restraints I found nothing there. My panic took over and I

screamed against the gag while I tried to writhe further.

Tane went over to stand next to my head and laid a soothing hand down on my

shoulder, his face still devoid of anything. Itch meanwhile began to restrain my

legs in a way that I was unable to close them even if I tried, and I did try. I

was next to frantic by the time he finished and went away. After the door up to

the smithy banged shut, Tane began to speak.

"I know that this must seem quite strange to you, but calm down or you'll pass

out because of lack of air. I'm shielding you from your abilities right now so

you don't start igniting everything around us. If you hold still for another

five minutes or so, everything will be alright. Just don't panic." Somehow his

words only fuelled my fright and despair and I tried to free myself once more.

Again it was for naught.

When I heard Lezaro shuffling around on my other side I tore my gaze from Tane

and instead looked at the old man. Lezaro was setting a brazier full of white

hot coals up next to me, and I felt my eyes widen even more. Whatever they were

up to, I surely didn't want to participate. Yet it seemed that I didn't really

have a choice.

Just then Itch came back down into the cellars, holding something in his hand

that looked suspiciously like a branding iron. That was the moment I basically

went wild, writhing in my bonds and reaching out for my fire as if my life

depended on it. Maybe it did. Tane brought this to a halt with a slap in my face

that rocked my head hard against the bench, making me dizzy and stilling my

movements. When I could focus on him again he put his head down to intently

stare into me eyes.

"Oh yes, you are right, this all is just for you, but struggling won't help you

now. I can always get a blindfold for you so that you are not forced to look

what's going on, but I guess that would only worsen your ordeal. Now keep still,

you'll live through it. You're just getting a little souvenir on your right

upper arm that will always remind you of your time with me. I carry a similar

sign from my teacher, so it's a tradition that I will keep up even if you don't

like it. It won't be the worst of it, believe me. And now hold still, or they

might slip and we'll have to go over all of this once again."

His words didn't soothe me one bit, but I was at last able to calm down once

more. I didn't like the idea of them branding me, but it was better than some

other nasty ideas that had crossed my mind. I would be able to go through this,

at least it would be quick. How quick I only realized when Itch took hold and

immobilized my right arm before Tane had even stepped back from me.

For just a moment I tried to struggle, but a warning glance from Tane let me go

still. I couldn't really keep still as my whole body began to shiver the moment

they took hold of me, but it was better than nothing. Lezaro murmured something

about being sorry, but I had only eyes for the fiery iron that they held above

my arm. I vaguely knew the shape of it from one of Tane's tattoos but couldn't

bother to remember which. It didn't really matter. Then they pressed the iron

against my skin and I screamed in spite of the gag. Blinding agony radiated from

my arm, sending tears of pain spilling over my face.

By the time the pain lessened Lezaro and Itch were already at work removing the

utensils, and I fervently wished for the gag to disappear so that I could get

enough air inside my lungs to properly breathe. Still my mind was clearing

rapidly, and another nagging question forced its way through the pain. If they

only wanted to brand my arm, why secure my legs this way? And what had Tane been

saying about this being not the worst to come?

My mind went screaming again when Tane came up to stand next to me once more. He

even managed a smile while he lovingly caressed my breast. "Now you're a good

girl, I know you'll endure that for me, too. Just one more thing. It might hurt,

that I grant you, hurt a lot and this pain won't subside as easily as this one."

His smile grew darker when he saw the added desperation in my eyes. "You'll

thank me sometime for it. Just try to relax. We both don't want Lezaro to slip

and do real damage, now do we?" He moved his hand down my body to push my pussy

lips apart with his fingers to gently stroke my clit. "Down there."

I had no way of knowing what made him torment me this way, but the sheer thought

of anyone inflicting severe pain to my nether regions frightened me even more.

It even immobilized me, making me go still with terror. Tane grinned once more

and then let his hand slip away, while turning around to look in the direction

of the old man. "Should I excite her some more, or is it better if she stays the

way she is?"

Lezaro came shuffling over to stand next to Tane, peering down at my crotch.

"This be enough, it will be best if she stay unaroused. And she do be looking

too frightened for much, anything. You really sure you want me to do this?" Tane

only nodded, and Lezaro went back to his table without another gaze at me. This

was just insane. While Lezaro prepared whatever he had to prepare Tane began to

stroke my thighs like you would pet an obedient dog. "Don't cramp that much,

you'll only hurt even more from the tension. In about a week everything will be

back to normal, or rather even better." Even if I had wanted to follow his lead

I wouldn't have been able to do it. I was just too frightened.

Far too soon Lezaro came back to me, carrying a big needle in one hand, and a

cloth in the other. I vaguely smelt liquor, and when he began rubbing it over

and around my clit I felt the cool touch of the evaporating alcohol. For a last

time I found the will to struggle but couldn't even buck my hips. When I caught

Tane's reprehensive look I realized that he held me down with layers of air.

That was the moment when I accepted defeat and let my head sink back against the

planks, staring bleakly up at the ceiling. Whatever he did to me, I would make

him pay tenfold for it, that I vowed to myself. Being whipped and taken by force

I could stand, but this ... that was were I drew the line. Maybe I would have to

wait for some time, maybe even years, but I would pay him back. I would ...

I couldn't venture on in my thoughts because then Lezaro took hold on the flesh

around my clitoris, forcing the little bud up from the folds of my pussy, and

pushed the needle through the flesh. Even with gag and restraints of both

leather and air I let out a wail and tried to buck up, while my mind filled with

the pain, nearly making me pass out. Only on the brink of my consciousness I

felt Lezaro continue, replacing the needle with a small ring, and once more

rubbing the whole area with alcohol. It burnt like hell, but I just closed my

eyes and let myself be carried away by the pain. I would so make him pay ...

Some time passed before my breathing slowed, and I didn't even realize when

someone removed the gag from my mouth to let me breathe freely once again. I

kept my jaws locked, biting down on my lower lips, keeping my eyes shut tightly,

calming down slowly. When I finally opened my eyes once more I had to blink away

tears before I could see anything. Silence enveloped me, and apart from Tane the

room was empty. He stood next to me, looking down on me, sympathy heavy on his

features. I just stared at him, my eyes wide, and tried to put all the contempt

into my gaze that I could manage. I'm not good at showing any emotions when

under pain, and I didn't even feel my arm hurting compared to the throbbing ache

that came up from my clit.

He stared down at me for a while, seemingly waiting for me to say something, but

I kept silent. Tane finally sighed and went down to stand between my legs, yet

kept his hands on my knees. "I know, you hate me now. Maybe you are even right.

But see it from the positive side, the next week at least, probably even through

the next month I will keep my hands off you to avoid any complications. By then

it will heal, the pain will subside, and you will realize how much pleasure this

little ring will bring you." He smiled briefly, then began to undo the straps

that held my legs. "I have our things ready, so I'll just untie you and we'll

get back home. If you want to, you can take the spare room for sleeping, if you

think that you can't stand sleeping in the same bed with me." It always amazed

me how well he could read my thoughts from my looks alone. Yet one thing he

didn't see coming, when he carelessly let my free right foot dangle while he

worked on the restraints of the other.

Without taking more than a second for aim I kicked out and planted my heel with

all the force I could summon into his crotch. Tane stopped in mid motion, his

eyes wide, and just gasped for air. Then he toppled over, out of sight, and I

heard him whimper. The movement had sent new pain up from my clit, yet I decided

that it was worth that much. It was also worth the pain he would inflict on me

for that, that I was sure.

It took him several minutes to come to his feet once again, and when he

staggered back to the bench one of his hands was cramped over his genitals. I

forced myself to stare at him, hold his gaze, and match the malice I could see

in his blue eyes. I didn't even turn my head when I saw his clenched fist

drawing back to bare down on my face. When my head connected with the

planks of the bench I lost consciousness, probably a favour the gods had granted

me. I knew what was ahead of me, so I was grateful about every second I wouldn't

have to endure it.