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ch she slipped over the post on the back of the wooden chair。
〃The magic will punish you for going against my wishes。 When I place this chain somewhere； it is my wish for it to stay there until I remove it。 I want you to learn that you are helpless to remove it。〃 She pointed at the door； which stood open。 〃For the next hour； I want you to try your best to make it to that doorway。 If you don't try your hardest； this is what I will do for the rest of the hour。〃 She put the Agiel to the side of his neck until he was on his knees； screaming in agony； and begging for her to stop。 She took it away and told him to begin； then went to lean； arms folded； against a wall。
The first thing he did was simply to try to walk to the door。 The pain buckled his legs before he was able to put even a little tension on the chain； and stopped' only when he scooted backward toward the chair。
Richard reached for the ring。 The pain of the magic cramped his arms until he was shaking with the strain of reaching for it。 Sweat ran off his face。 He tried backing to the chair； then turning； but before his fingers could touch the chain； the pain took him to the ground again。 He pushed against the pain； straining to reach the chair； but couldn't get there past the pain； the effort causing him to fall to the ground； vomiting blood。 When it ended； he held himself up with one hand； tears dripping from his face as he held his stomach with his other hand and shook。 From the corner of his eye； he saw Denna unfold her arms and stand up straight。 He started moving again。
What he was doing was clearly not going to work。 He had to think of something else。 He drew the sword； thinking to lift the chain。 For a brief instant； and with the greatest effort； he managed to touch the chain with the blade。 The pain made him drop the sword。 He was able to stop the hurt only by putting the sword back in its scabbard。
A thought came to him。 He lay down on the ground； and in a quick movement； kicked the chair out from under the chain before the pain could paralyze him。 The chair skidded across the floor； hit the table； and fell over。 The chain fell from the post。
The victory lasted only the briefest of moments。 With the chain off the chair； the pain elevated to a new height。 He choked and gasped against the floor。 With all his effort； he clawed his way across the stone。 Each inch he moved only increased the pain until he was blinded by it。 His eyes felt as if they would explode from his head。 He had managed to move only about two feet。 He didn't know what to do； the pain wouldn't let him move； and it was keeping him from thinking。
〃Please； Mistress Denna；〃 he whispered with all his strength； 〃help me。 Please help me。〃 He realized he was crying； but didn't care。 He only wanted the chain back on the chair so the pain would stop。
He heard her boots walking toward him。 She bent and picked up the chair； righted it； and replaced the loop。 His pain lifted； but he couldn't stop crying as he rolled onto his back。
She stood over him with her hands on her hips。 〃That was only fifteen minutes； but since I had to e help you； the hour starts over。 The next time I have to e help you； it will be two hours。〃 She bent and pushed the Agiel against his stomach； making pain bloom inside him。 〃Understand？〃
〃Yes； Mistress Denna；〃 he cried。 He was afraid there was a way to escape； and afraid of what would happen to him if he found it； and afraid of not trying。 If there was a way； by the end of the hour； he had not found it。
She came and stood over him as he… rested on his hands and knees。 〃Do you think you understand now？ Do you understand what will happen if you try to escape？〃
〃Yes； Mistress Denna。〃 And he really did。 There was no way for him to ever get away。 Hopelessness closed around him； feeling as if it would suffocate him。 He wanted to die。 He thought about the knife at his belt。
〃Stand up。〃 As if reading； his mind； she spoke softly。 〃If you should think you would end your service as my pet； think again
The magic will prevent it； the same as it prevents you from moving the chain from where I put it。〃 Richard blinked numbly at her。 〃There is no way for you to escape me； not even through death。 You will be mine as long as I choose to let you live。〃
〃That won't be long； Mistress Denna。 Darken Rahl is going to kill me。〃
〃Perhaps。 But even if he does； it will only be after you tell him what he wants to know。 What I want is for you to answer his questions； and you are going to do what I want without hesitation。〃 Her brown eyes had the hardness of steel。 〃You may not believe that right now； but you have no idea how good I am at training people。 I have never failed to break a man。 You may think you will be the first； but you will soon be begging to please me。〃
The first day with her wasn't over； and already Richard knew he would do almost anything she said。 She had weeks left to train him。 If he could have willed himself to die on the spot； he would have done it。 The worst thing was knowing she was right； there was nothing he could do to stop her。 He was at her mercy； and he didn't think she had a shred of it。
〃I understand； Mistress Denna。 I believe you。〃 Her pleasant smile made him need to think of how pretty her braid was。
〃Good。 Now； take off your shirt。〃 Her smile widened at the puzzled look on his face； and the way he started unbuttoning his shirt nonetheless。 She held the Agiel in front of his eyes。 〃It's time to teach you all the things the Agiel can do。 If you leave your shirt on； it will be covered in blood； and I won't be able to find a fresh spot on you。 You are going to see why the outfit I wear is this color。〃
He pulled his shirttail out。 He was breathing hard； in a near panic。 〃But Mistress Denna； what have I done wrong？〃
She cupped a hand to the side of his face with mock concern。 〃Why； don't you know？〃 He shook his head； swallowing back the lump in his throat。 〃You have let yourself be captured by a Mord…Sith。 You should have killed all my men with your sword。 I think you could have done it。 You were very impressive； as far as you went。 Then you should have used your knife or your bare hands to kill me； while I was vulnerable； before I had control of your magic。 You should have never given me the chance to take control of the magic from you。 You should have never tried to
use it against me。〃 ‘
〃But why must you use the Agiel on me； now。〃
She laughed。 〃Because I want you to learn。 Learn that I can do whatever I want； and there is no way for you to stop me。 You must learn that you are totally helpless； and that if you enjoy any time without pain； it is only because I choose it。 Not you。〃 The smile left her face。 She went to the table； returned with manacles held with a length of chain。 〃Now。 You have a problem that annoys me。 You keep falling down。 We are going to fix that。 Put these on。〃
She threw them at him。 He struggled to control his breathing as he latched each iron band to a shaking wrist。 Denna dragged the chair over to a beam； made him stand under it。 She stood on the chair to hook the chain to an iron peg。
〃Stretch up。 It doesn't reach yet。〃 He had to stand on his toes and stretch before she could get it hooked。 〃There。〃 She smiled。 〃Now we won't have any more problems with you falling down。〃
Richard hung from the chain； trying to control his terror； the iron bands digging into his wrists because of his own weight。 He knew there was nothing he could do to stop her before； but this was different。 It amplified his helplessness； made him all the more aware that there was no way for him to fight back。 Denna pulled on her gloves； walked around him several times； tapping the Agiel against her hand； prolonging his anxiety。
If only he had been killed trying to stop Darken Rahl…that was a price he had been prepared to pay。 This was different。 This was death without dying。 Living death。 He was not even to be allowed the dignity of fighting back。 He knew what the Agiel felt like； he didn't need her to show him anymore。 She was only doing this to take away his pride； his self…respect。 To break him。
Denna tapped the Agiel against his chest and back as she continued walking around him。 Each touch of it was like a dagger knifing into him。 Each touch made him cry out in pain and twist on the chain； and he knew she hadn't even really begun yet。 The first day was still not over； and there would be many more to e。 He cried at his helplessness。
Richard imagined his sense of self； his dignity； as a living thing； saw it in his mind。 He imagined a room。 A room that was impervious to anything； to any harm。 He put his dignity； his self respect； into that room； and locked the door。 No one would have a key to that door。 Not Denna； not Darken Rahl。 Only him。 He would endure what was to e； for as long as it was to e； without his dignity。 He would do what he had to； and someday he would unlock the door； and be himself again； even it if was only in death。 But for now； he would be her slave。 For now。 But not always。 Someday； it would end。
Denna took his face in both her hands and kissed him； hard。 Hard enough to