“c1″> 

“c1″>"Of course, Mistress, but you also should consider
a supplementary punishment because what I just did also is against
Amazon law. I suppose it should be considered as
presumptuous."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"Presumptuous, no, I don’t think so.
You’re a very caring person although slightly over
protective. Such behaviour is by no means expected from any slave.
I certainly will not punish you – or anyone else, for that
matter – being a compassionate human being." The Queen
sensed Xena’s upcoming protestation, and changed the subject.
"Now please, place your upper body on the surface of the
desk."

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

“c1″>-x-x-x-x-

“c1″> 

“c1″> 

About
half a candlemark later slave and mistress were comfortably seated
in front of the fireplace, both wearing oversized sleeping shifts
and sipping some cider.

“c1″> 

“c1″>"So she left the Nation for
good?"

“c1″> 

“c1″>"So I presume. I sent her to another village about
five days of fast travel north of here with orders to begin a new
apprenticeship as a weaver and to forego her weapons. I also gave
her a sealed scroll with information for the leader of our northern
village. It contains a description of the latest events and her
crimes as well as a set of instructions designed to tune down
Najara's aggressiveness and to subdue her pride. But I
don’t think she will even try to atone. My orders are rather
severe, and I let her read the scroll before I sealed it; I
probably was too severe but I saw the fear in Thania’s eyes,
and I’m afraid I didn’t think very rationally then.
Questioning Najara was frustrating; she simply didn’t
acknowledge her guilt…"

“c1″> 

“c1″>"To her, what she did is the way things are done,
the only way possible. She didn’t think twice abusing Thania
for her own sexual pleasure. It’s the strong who decide and
the weak who have to obey. I know she’s a good fighter,
always in the front rows, never retreating; killing is what she
lives for. The sound of her sword slicing flesh and bone, the
coppery scent of blood, this is her delight but I doubt she ever
made a good leader. She only feels alive on a battlefield. Fighting
for her is like swimming in a refreshing spring of dark
energy…. I’m sorry, Queen Melosa, I didn’t want
to hold a lecture."

“c1″> 

“c1″>"You are welcome, everything you said is true. When
we last fought off one of these petty warlords with more ambition
then brains, she was close to uncontrollable. We defeated them
easily but when they finally put their weapons down, she continued
fighting and killing. Eponin had to knock her out. Still, what she
did to Thania, I never would have thought possible. How did you
know?"