“c1″> 

“c1″>"You’re right. What would you do if it were
your responsibility? Apart from killing her on the spot, that
is."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"She can’t stay in the village any longer;
her presence alone is susceptible to hurt the girl. Perhaps you
could offer her a choice: expulsion or a trial ending with a death
sentence, Queen Melosa. It’s not exactly honest but I’m
sure she won’t call the bluff, she’s too arrogant to
even consider Thania’s feelings."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"I’ll give it a thought, Xena. Please leave
us now, return to your assigned task. Your punishment will be
completed after sundown."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Yes, Mistress." Xena left the hut, silently
thankful of being alone, and able to spend some built up aggressive
energy on the stone wall. She worked without a stop until the
fading light made it difficult to place the great stones properly,
and then she washed up and passed by the healer’s hut before
facing the remainder of her punishment. The girl due to the healing
tea was still asleep, and Xena spent some peaceful candledrops with
Gabrielle.

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

“c1″>-x-x-x-x-

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

The
Queen’s hut was empty when Xena finally returned, so she
built a fire in the fireplace, and prepared some bread, cheese, and
a pitcher of cider on a tray next to the bear rug, as she did every
evening. Then she discarded her leathers in her small room and
knelt in the same corner as earlier this day, now facing the
entrance.

“c1″> 

Two
very long candlemarks later, the Queen finally returned. She seemed
exhausted and bonelessly slumped into the chair in front of her
desk. Protocol commanded a slave, and especially a slave doomed to
be punished, to wait for a word or a signal of her mistress before
moving. Xena didn’t care; she filled a goblet from the tray
with cider and handed it to Melosa, then she once again lowered
herself to her knees and began to unlace the boots. Only then, the
Queen reacted.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"What do you think you’re doing, Xena? I told
you more than once, I don’t need a
servant."

“c1″> 

"I
apologise, Mistress, I only wanted you to be more comfortable. I
suppose your afternoon wasn’t all too pleasant. I
didn’t mean to interfere in your personal sphere, although
I’d like…" Her eyes sank to her lap.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Xena, look at me. I appreciate your concern, and I
will answer your questions concerning Najara but first there is a
punishment term to complete."