"I will crawl as befits my station. Put me down!" she yelled. I kept hold of her and she continued to beat on me, raking my arm with her nails. I kick...d the door of the wagon open and carried her out."Lees!" I snapped. My caretaker ran from where she was helping the children settle down for the night. "Please take Cathy to the latrine and see that she has suitable clothing and blankets. She is to have warmth, shelter, food, and drink. If anyone harms or abuses her, he or she will answer to the. "What? It's not what it looks like?" I air quoted with my fingers. She ran into my chest, wrapping her arms around me. My arms were still at my side. "Please, Jimmy... I forgot I even had that in there. I meant to throw it away. I would NEVER, EVER, do anything to hurt you again... You have to believe me." She sounded like she meant it. "You gunna flush it, or do I have to?" She shook her head and opened her eyes wide, tears still dripping from them, "No, baby, I'll do it!" She released me from. "If there was a way for me to live through this, believe me, I would try just about anything, but that is the outcome I am preparing for,"Larelle's eyes went wide, and a smile adorned her face."I will do as you ask, Master."Arrian eyed her with suspicion. First she was crying, now a blazing smile was on her face and she was accepting of his death. He wasn't fooled for a second; this cute little servant was up to something."It goes without saying that this conversation was for our ears only." Of. The practice swords were not very sharp but they stung with sufficient bite to make him determined to master the moves the talented swordsman showed him each session. He practiced on the padded dummy in the back room of the hut and his sister watched him with envy wishing she was the one wielding the sword and not him. His mother instructed him to remove himself to the hut of the tribal healer Samuel who was not really a physician but had knowledge of the herbs and healing potions that they had.