“c1″> 

“c1″>“I don’t know much about the traditions of
this tribe but I also don’t think that screaming and swearing
should be the usual teaching tools. This warrior, Najara, she never
was gentle or even understanding to this sensible girl;
there’s a part of me that easily can understand such
behaviour, during a fight there’s no time for being nice, but
today she plainly overstepped my limit of tolerance. The girl,
Thania, she was very brave for someone her age, she can’t
have more than eleven winters, considering her injuries and what I
had to witness the past few days, praise would have been more
adequate than punishment."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Next time you find the slightest thing out of line
with your perception of Amazon rules or conduct you will tell me
immediately. This time you were right to interfere but next time
you probably won’t, so talk to me, trust my experience. What
you did was the right thing, nevertheless I’m
forced…."

“c1″> 

"I
know, Mistress, and I knew when I decided to interfere. I’m
guilty of disobedience. Your orders were unambiguous:
'Don’t interact with any of the warriors or other Amazons
without explicit clearance.' I regret, it was necessary but I
will not apologise for doing it. I’m ready to receive the
punishment you, Queen Melosa, find adequate." Xena answered,
and slowly lowered her eyes back to the floor.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"You really are a woman of contradictions, Xena.
But I suppose I won’t get any more answers any time soon, so
we better get this done with now. I have another warrior to
reprimand. For disobedience, you will receive ten strokes on the
back and ten strokes on your bottoms with a leather strap. Do you
want to be restrained?"

“c1″> 

“c1″>"No, Mistress, this won’t be
necessary."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Come here, get on your knees, we will begin with
your back." Xena did as she was told, and Melosa loosened a
one and a half inch broad leather strap from her belt. It was moons
since she had to use it on any of her subjects. The weapons’
master usually dealt with discipline failures but Xena was her
personal slave, so there weren’t any excuses. The first
stroke marked the right side of Xena’s broad
shoulders.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"One. Thank you, Mistress." Xena said,
loosening the grip on her thighs, and bracing herself hands flat,
arms outstretched for what was to come.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"There’s no need to thank me, I just do what
I have to do, and there’s no need to count either, unless you
really want to."