[Lyra Greenleaf]

Essenia

Essenia did not know she was no longer alone in her tent until a voice spoke to her. Wheeling around, her heart beating fast, she saw Rahvin.
"I have instructions from Sevora" he repeated again, calmly.
Essenia nodded, watching his face and willing herself to calmness. Here was a man who made her feel emotional in comparison- and that would not be true of many people.

"Sammael and Zasfal are to be punished for the incident in the night"
Essenia nodded again, impatient. That had nothing to do with her, surely?

"They are attatched to the cart. You will take care of them. They are not to eat, but water will be necessary a few times during the day. Sevora wants no more deaths. You will walk with them, assure they live, and make sure they know that the minimum is all they will get. All wrongs will be punished in time."

With that, he turned and left the tent. essenia had to bite her lip to stop herself yelling in frustration. This was punishment to her, of course. That last sentence was meant for her ears- Sevora finally had her chance to take revenge for the fiasco in the village. And hadn't she found the perfect way? Beatings would mean little to Essenia, just as everything else that happened to her body seemed disconnected from her true being. This- a punishment for her head- was the ideal. She felt a grudging respect for the priestess.

***************************

Sammael

Sammael groaned. This would truly be a day of punishment. Walking behind the cart was all very well- unpleasant but bearable- having to do it next to Zasfal was little short of torture. He had already started to complain, protesting his innocence and blaming Sammael for his ills. Sammael grinned at him in a parody of good humour.
"There was a simple solution, Zasfal. Had you remained instead of running with your tail between your legs, I would have killed you too and you would have had no punishment. You would be the late-" he paused consideringly "perhaps lamented- you have a mother, do you not?- Zasfal, and your spirit would have had the satisfaction of seeing me doubly punished."
Thankfully a combination of outrage, fury and hatred shut Zasfal up. Sammael was just about to breathe a sigh of relief, when the refrain began again. Sammael decided to try and ignore it.

Gnashing his teeth he turned to Damodred who was standing with Sammael's weapons to his other side. He smiled thinly at him, and the tribesman with him.
"No need to say anything- "I told you so" would not be suitable since you didn't."
Damodred grinned back.
"I'll leave you with your friend, shall I?" he asked, nodding at Zasfal.
He's enjoying this! Sammael thought with a groan. Probably thinks it's exactly what I need to knock some sense into me.
"Yes, you go," he answered with mock resignation. "There's no reason for us both to suffer."

Damodred began to answer, but was interrupted by the call to move out. He merely patted Sammael on the back and left. The cart began to move with a jerk, and Sammael felt his shoulder joints click as he was pulled along. It was hard to stay on his feet. Zasfal tripped and cursed as he was pulled up again. Sighing, Sammael resigned himself to a very long day.

Sammael was startled to see Essenia come up to walk alongside him, a metre or so distant, but clearly meaning to remain there. He stared, and she must have felt something since she turned to glare at him. Sammael looked forward again, worried of falling over his feet.
No doubt she wants to see me punished, he thought grimly, and determined not to give her the pleasure.

"I knew it was just a matter of time" he said with a wink.
She regarded him blankly.
"My charm never fails" he continued. "Although I have to admit you had me doubting. Well, I'm a little tied up at the moment as you can see- but I should have the use of my hands back tonight."
Still she kept silent.

Determined to crack her, if only to find out what she was doing, Sammael kept up his patter for the next few minutes.
"Believe me, it wasn't my idea!" she finally snapped, eyes flashing.
So there is a little passion in there! Sammael thought exultantly.
"So why are you honouring me with your presence?" he asked curiously.
"Orders" she answered, again a block of ice under the desert sun. "I have to give you water when it looks like you're dying"

"How thoughtful" Sammael answered sarcastically.
So she's being punished too he thought with interest. Perhaps this day will have it's distractions after all...