This was a ... strong willed girl. Cathy sent her fist down again, hitting just above the knee. The attached lower leg and foot jerked. Cathy began us...ng both her fists, punishing legs that refused to work.Or did they?"Stop ... Stop!" Nona shot her hands out, grabbing flailing fists. "Cathy, stop! I think it did work!"The girl froze instantly. Her eyes opened, fear in them. Fear to once again hope."What do you mean?" she whispered. Nona gently lowered the girl's fists, placing them in her lap. Just my fucking luck that I get paired with the pervert worth a king’s ransom.”“The most prudent move now is to return to the palace and tell everyone what’s going on. There is no telling how many revelers are out there looking for me, but they’d be stupid to follow me onto the castle grounds. The security has been raised so high that we’ll be safe.”“Shit, that’s the best idea I’ve heard all day. And maybe I can trade you in for a less dangerous cadet.”“After you, sir.”----------“Nothing like. Charlie took her hand and they climbed the curving carpeted staircase up to the darkened circle where the film was already running. The usherette greeted them with her torch shone on the ground. Charlie murmured to the lady as he tipped her and she led them to the rear double seats which were mostly empty.They settled down to watching the romantic movie.His heart thumped nervously as his arm went cautiously around the girl.She did not react one way or the other; it was hard to know how she. He left behind his warm bed and his beautiful, willing wife at the Temple’s summons, a summons which included an express command not to wear his badge. Without the badge, he would not enjoy the freedom of the temple. He would not arrive to be pleased by fawning hetaerae eager to cater to his every wish, but instead, to serve, his status in the temple as low or lower than the gardiner, a servant to do as he was bidden. The sun was only just breaking the horizon when he arrived at the Temple on.