按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the marble railing as he looked to his right； past the sparkling lights of the city； to the hills from where he had e。
‘The sunsets are beautiful from this balcony；’ Pasha said。
Richard wasn’t interested in sunsets。 He studied the courtyard below； the gates； the roads； the patrolling soldiers； and the bridges to the city and the hills beyond。 He tried to fix a map of it all into his head。
He went back inside and marched to the other end of the room； to the doorway there。 Beyond was a bedroom almost as large as the first room。 It held the largest bed he had ever seen； covered with a deep purple quilt。 Another pair of glassed doors led to another balcony； but this one looked south； out over the sea。
‘It’s a beautiful view；’ Pasha said。 ‘A romantic view。’ She saw that he was looking to the sections of the palace below。 She pointed。 ‘Across that courtyard are some of the women’s quarters； where most of the Sisters’ rooms are。’ She shook the finger at him。 ‘You will stay away from them； young man！’ She turned away。 ‘Unless a Sister invites you to her room；’ she added under her breath。 ‘What do I call you；’ he asked。 ‘Sister Pasha？’ She giggled。 ‘No。 I’m a novice； though I hope to bee a Sister if I prove myself with you。 Until then； I am simply Pasha。’
Richard turned to her； directing a glare to her eyes。 ‘My name is Richard。 Do you have trouble remembering it？’
‘Look here； you are assigned to me and 。。。’
‘If that is too difficult for you to remember； you have no chance of ever being a Sister； because if you insist on trying to demean me by calling me by other than my name； I will see to it that you quickly fail in your test。’ He leaned over her as he glowered down at her wide eyes。 ‘Do you understand； Pasha！’
She swallowed。 ‘You will not raise your voice to me； young 。。。’ She lifted her chin a little。 ‘You will not raise your voice to me； Richard。’
That’s better。 Thank you。’ He hoped she would leave it at that； he was in no mood to be kind if she was not。
He turned away。 This balcony held less of a view of the things he was interested in； and so he went back into the bedroom。
She followed on his heels。 ‘Look here； Richard； you will learn some manners or else I will 。。。’
That was the end of his indulgence。 He spun to her。 She lurched to a halt； almost colliding with him。
‘You’ve never been in charge of anyone before； have you？’ She didn’t move。 ‘I would say that this is the first time you have been given responsibility； and you are terrified you will muck it up。 Since you are inexperienced； you think acting like a tyrant will fool people into thinking you know what you are doing。’
‘Well； I 。。。’
Her voice trailed off as he leaned down； putting his face close to hers。
‘You should not be frightened of letting me see that you are inexperienced at manding people； Pasha。 What you should be frightened of is that I will kill you。’
Her eyes narrowed with indignation。 ‘Don’t you dare threaten me。’
This is a game to you。 A way for you to fulfill some arcane rules by prancing around； pulling your little puppy around by his collar； and training him to lick your hand； so you may gain a new rank。’
He gritted his teeth as he lowered his voice。 ‘It is not a game to me； Pasha。 It’s a matter of life and death。 I am a prisoner； held in a collar； as a beast； or a slave。 I have only as much control of my life as you people allow。 I know I am to be tortured by you as a way of breaking my will。
‘You are wrong； Pasha； if you think that I’m making a threat。 I’m not。 I am making a promise。’
‘I’m not what you think of me； Richard；’ she said in a small voice。 ‘I want to be your friend。’
‘You are not my friend。 You are my captor。’ He held a finger up in front of her face。 ‘Don’t you ever turn your back on me； because I will kill you； just as I killed the last person who held me prisoner in a collar。’
She blinked up at him。 ‘Richard； I don’t know what happened to you before； but we’re not like that。 I want to be a Sister of the Light to help people see the Creator’s goodness。’
Richard was dangerously close to letting the magic slip from his control。 He struggled to maintain his grip。 He had other things to do。 ‘I am not interested in your theology。 Just remember what I told you。’
She smiled。 ‘I will。 I apologize for making you angry by calling you other than by your name。 Please forgive me。 I’ve never done this before。 I was only doing as I thought I should； following the rules； as I was trained。’
‘Forget the rules。 Just be yourself； and you will have less trouble in life。’
‘If that would help you believe that I’m only trying to help you； then that’s what I shall do。’ She pointed。 ‘Here。 Sit on the edge of the bed。’
‘Why？’
Though she didn’t move； he felt a gentle push。 He fell back； to sit on the edge of the bed。 ‘Don’t 。。。’
She stepped between his legs； close to him。
‘Hush。 Let me do my job。 I told you before； I must let my Han e to know your Rada’Han； so I will know where you are at all times。’
She put her hands to each side of his neck； over the collar。 She closed her eyes。 Her breasts were right in front of his face； moving with each breath。 He felt a soft tingling sensation that sank all the way to his toes and then came back up through him。 It was slightly unfortable； but not unpleasant； and in fact the longer it went on； the better it felt。
When she took her hands away； the absence of the sensation was agony for a moment。 The world seemed to hum and spin。 He shook his head。
‘What did you do？’
‘I simply let my Han e to know your Rada’Han。’ She looked a little dazed。 She swallowed as a tear ran down her cheek。 ‘And something of your Han； your essence。’
She turned away。 Richard stood。
‘Does that mean that you will always know where I am； now？ By my collar？’
She nodded weakly as she strode slowly across the room。 Her voice regained its control。 ‘What are your preferences； for food？ Your special