“c1″> 

“c1″>"Najara, I want you to wait for me in your hut, we
need to talk. Xena, I will accompany Thania to the healer’s
hut. They will take care of her ribs and of the swelling in her
face. Prepare to be punished."

“c1″> 

Xena
nodded, rose and went to the Queen’s hut; there now would be
no more threats to the girls security, and Anara was a very
accomplished healer but nevertheless she longed to tend to the girl
herself. Melosa carefully helped the young girl to staggering feet
while the angry warrior still stood motionless, glowering, and only
reluctantly followed Xena to the central part of the village where
all the individual and communal sleeping quarters were located, a
look of unconcealed hatred in the eyes.

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

“c1″>-x-x-x-x-

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

Xena entered
the central room of Melosa’s hut; it was a large square room
with a well aired fireplace on the right side of the door, the hide
of a great dark brown bear in front of it and many randomly
distributed cushions. Two large windows dominated the left wall,
capturing the sun from “c1″>midday to sundown.
Between them, a large desk with scrolls and other smaller pieces of
parchment and a single chair dominated the room. In the back were
two doors, one leading to the Queen’s bedroom, the other
where Xena now was headed opened to a small chamber with nothing
but a bed, a small dresser and a chest secured by a large iron
padlock. She sat down on the bed, took off her boots, and peeled
herself out of her leathers. Aside her slave collar she now was
completely naked.

“c1″> 

Then
she closed the door from the outside, and went to the right corner
in the back of the central room where she knelt with her back to
the door; so she would immediately be on display for everyone
entering the hut. Xena resigned herself to a long period of waiting
but merely five candledrops later the Queen entered her
quarters.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Please, turn around, Xena. I don’t think
that humiliation should be a part of
punishment."

“c1″> 

"I
try to see it more as a matter of trust, Mistress." Xena
answered while turning around after hesitating
imperceptibly.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Why did you interfere?"

“c1″> 

“c1″>"The last four days, since I’m repairing the
stone wall, I had the opportunity to cast glances to the training
grounds. I’m a warrior more than anything else, and
there’s a part of me, longing for sword exercise or any other
kind of drills. I know that’s not possible now but…
Sorry, I’m deviating… Najara and her apprentice always
choose sparring hours not requested by any others and she never
allowed her to participate in group training sessions, they always
were alone on the ground, and so I had glimpses of her
'training techniques'.