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worked the soap into a lather and began scrubbing himself
clean. It felt good. The bruises that were left after Danny had
healed him were finally gone.
"Commander." Tal turned toward the woman's soft
voice. She held a shaving kit, a razor, lathering brush and a
small silver mirror.
"You will have to shave me, Fasha." When Denso had
sealed the cuff to his wrist, he had made a warning about
picking up anything with a blade and there was a hint of
pleasure in the dark eyes. The torturer priest enjoyed his
work immensely and the way it was presented told Tal that it
would be wise to listen. "I cannot handle weapons." He
raised his wrist from the water to show the plain metal cuff.
Quickly she set the tray down, "Would you like a hot
towel?"
"Are there any ready?"
"Yes, Commander. They are always prepared." She rose
and heated toward a large porcelain cover. Steam rose up as
she used a wooden spoon to pull the towel free. It was a
pleasure to feel the heat on his face...to have the brush lather
the bread that was going in so quickly. There was a slight
hesitation before the blade began to stroke his flesh. A sharp
jab on his underside of his jaw and Fasha backed away.
Blood welled on his neck.
161 Derekica Snake
Pure fear was in her dark eyes. She set the straight edge
razor on the tile and pressed her forehead to the edge of the
tub.
"You're only half done, Fasha."
"This slave is awaiting punishment..."
"I've cut myself worse, little girl. Come on, half of my
face feels so good." Tall settled himself back against the side
of the tub and closed his eyes. Deep in his chest, his stomach
muscles clenched as the sharp edge began to shave again.
Splashing water on his face, he took the small offered mirror
and looked over the job. A small trail of blood was still
seeping from the nick in his neck but he was beginning to
look like himself again. "Can you cut hair, little one?"
"Better than I shave, Commander."
She picked small scissors from the tray, "These are not
weapons, Commander."
"They've got a sharp edge. Go ahead."
The heat from the water was so soothing, but the
summons was still in the back of his head. Joelle...he caught
himself. Riverview was patient but only to a point. This
respite could be the start of another round of confessionals.
Showing the condemned what the good life could be before
behind sent back into hell. Fasha finished her job quickly and
was true to her word that she was a better cutter than shaver.
Tal roused himself from the tub and grabbed up a towel.. She
backed away, keeping to her knees and covertly watched as
he wiped himself dry. The new clothes were grey and
smelled of packing cedar, but they were clean and fit well.
The Black Tower 162
When Fasha had tried to polish his boots, he set her aside,
enjoying the brushing and polishing.
"Commander...I am ordered to you tonight." Fasha
cautiously reached down and took Tal's hand in her palms.
She pressed her lips to his knuckles. "This slave is honoured
to be chosen."
"In the cells?"
"Oh no, commander. You have a room in the high tower.
I am to attend you there."
"How old are you, Fasha?"
"I am a woman." Her face coloured.
"Do you know?"
"No Commander. I will serve in the house until I am too
old to please the master..."
Tal reached out and touched the smooth skin of her face,
"You are a beautiful child, and this old man is honoured by
your affection."
"The prisoner will come with us." The hard voice broke
the silent moment. Fasha dropped back to her knees and
pressed her forehead toward the tile. She could see his black
boots slowly turn and head out of her vision.
"Slave, clean up this place."
"Yes master." Fasha turned around, gathering up the
towels and items she had used on the grey haired man.
Unseen, she slipped the scissors into the towels turned and
headed out of the bathing chamber.
"You should kill him." Lord Morriso spoke again,
between slips of red wine. The slave to his left lifted a white
square of cloth to wipe the droplets away.
163 Derekica Snake
Joelle reclined on her own chair. Her battle gear had
been replaced with a simple white and red robe that swept the
floor as she walked. She shook her head as she slipped from
her own goblet, "He has details that we will need."
"Have your priest talk to him."
"The Commander has proven to be a stubborn man."
There was a tone of admiration in her voice. Few could
withstand Denso's attention - that was the main reason she
had requested him as the High Priest for her unit, but Denso's
magical skills were found wanting here.
"I thought the Illumination would have had this
matter cleaned up by now."
"We might have, but we received incomplete information
- from the Free Lords, as you are called by the Dominion, and
by our own spies. The Dark Lord is more powerful than we
expected. Having the Commander and only losing twenty-
two men was more than we could have hoped for."
"That slave lover...When will you be attacking?"
"Are you eager for us to be leaving, Lord Morriso?"
"It was our understanding that the Illumination carried
their own supplies. We...had not planned on feeding an
army."
Joelle straigthened, "You brought us into your petty
war, Morriso. It's gone far beyond runaway and upstart
slaves, if we don't stop what's growing out there in the
Dominion, feeding an army would be the lest of your
problems."
'This is my holding, Commander Riverview and I will
not be spoken to..." His voice broke off as a guarded figure
The Black Tower 164
was brought into the room, "What is that thing doing in
here?"
"I ordered him here." Joelle turned and rose to her feet.
She was almost a full head's length taller than the dark haired
Morriso. "Come on Commander Kegsetter. I'm sure that you
are hungry."
"That depends on what you want from me, Commander."
"A little company and pleasant conversation." Joelle
motioned to a chair opposite her.
"In other circumstances, I would be honoured, but as I
have no choice." Tal moved toward the offered seat. Aside
from his black boots, everything about him was grey. His
hair had taken on a shine of silver, his skin was starting to
pale but the deep brown of the eyes held more character there
than the battle earned winkles and scars.
"You are bleeding Commander."
"It's only a shaving nick."
"You shouldn't be touching weapons..."
"I wasn't."
"Fasha." Morriso slammed his goblet to the table spilling
the contents. Bile rose in Tal's throat as the young pages leapt
into action cleaning up the mess.
"I was under the impression that she was given to me."
Tal returned evenly, "so I reprimanded her."
"I thought that you didn't believe in slavery." Joelle
spoke up, her eyes peering across the table right into his soul.
"I've owned slaves before, Commander."
"I don't think the Dark Lord would appreciate you saying
that."
165 Derekica Snake
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