The chainswere chafing at their ankles and their necks. Karen foundit hard after her treatment over the past few days but she at least was fairlyfit, ...ade hardy by her weeks with the Kushtiansbefore her capture. The others found it harder; their stumbles earned themblows from the older man?s stick. Even Karen was handed her share of beatings.Soon she was soaked in sweat from the heat of the sun, her body caked withgrains of sand stuck to the sweat, her buttocks and the backs of her. ’ ‘No problem, down on the chair beside me will be fine.’ ‘Er, nice bathroom.’ ‘Don’t be embarrassed, Ian. Surely you’ve been in a room with a naked woman before?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Well?’ ‘Well what?’ ‘Do you like my breasts?’ ‘Yes. May I go now?’ ‘Why?’ ‘Because we’ve only just met.’ ‘Ian, would you like to join me in the bath?’ Linda felt herself flush at being so daring. But it was not the time to be faint-hearted. If she wanted to break the cycle, Ian was her man. ‘Well?’ ‘This is very irregular.’. I made a note on my pad that the hedge needed pruning and shaping. I looked up and found we were standing on a gravel path at the top of a stone stairway leading down to what had been at one time, the main flower gardens. It was massive! The land doglegged to the right and I could see a large orchard and what appeared to be a walled kitchen garden. In all there must have been at least three acres. The whole area was carpeted with scrub grass and weeds, out of control bushes and shrubs and I. "Now it was the Queen's turn to roll her eyes. "We're in the Hall. Until the wedding, I'm just Alicia. All of Christi's rules apply to me here, and to Thakkor as well. No titles, unless absolutely necessary." Okay – Alicia it is," Ari responded.Christi finished pulling on her blouse and walked over to the Queen, hugging her. "I'm glad you're here, Alicia."Alicia clapped her hands after the embrace. "Let us make sure everything is in order, so I will have time to sneak into town to find a room.".