The gates were not barred to me, but the women were there specifically to deal with me. I felt my blood sing as I set foot across the invisible line s...parating the city cobbles from the hallowed ground of the temple. A smile crept to my face of its own accord.I bowed to the High Priestess. "Good Morning, Mother." Morning, Lord Charles." She gave me the slightest bow in return."I hope that my Postulant has made the correct arrangements for training this morning?" Yes, your Postulant ... How did. I quickly gathered her into my arms, and held her while she cried."Thank you," she mumbled through her tears after a time, but continued to tremble, and her breathing was ragged."They used us before tying us to the posts and whipping us. Oh God, the pain was awful. We screamed and screamed, but they didn't stop!" she mumbled through renewed tears and more trembling. I held her tightly to me, and sent soothing thoughts to her disturbed mind. After a time, she settled down some, and her breathing. Most of the people who frequented the bar were middle-aged curmudgeons who had nothing better to do than drown their sorrows in an ale or two. We walked into the dimly lit bar and took seats at a table near the back. Crystal slid into the booth and I followed. The waitress was a middle-aged decent looking girl, with cleavage spilling out of her top and a bad hair extension. I ordered two beers. My conversation with Crystal started off with compliments about her work in the campaign. We talked. ”As Nina eased herself up from Diane‘s lap and Diane stood up and went to her sports bag and got out the cane, there were more incredulous gasps from those watching. One onlooker said, “I got that at sixth form college once and, boy, did it hurt. Still, I did get a double detention and knew that was going to be the penalty, and reckon this naughty woman must also have known that what she did, whatever that was, earned this penalty as well.” As Nina bent over and grabbed a hold of the bench,.