Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind [337]
She gave him his two hours, not as hard as she usually did, but hard enough to make him cry in pain. After the training, she told him that her back still hurt, and slept on the floor again, having him sleep in the bed.
The next few days went back to the regular routine, the training not being as long or as strenuous as before, except when Constance was there. Denna kept a close watch on her, guiding more than she had in the past. Constance didn’t like it, sometimes glaring at Denna. When Constance was rougher than Denna wished, she wasn’t invited for the next session.
With the lighter training sessions, his head started to clear, and he began remembering things, things about his past. A few times, when Denna’s back hurt, they went for long walks, looking at the various, astonishingly beautiful places.
After an afternoon devotion one day, Constance asked if she could come along. Denna smiled and said yes. Constance asked to do the training, and was given permission. She was rougher than usual, and had Richard in prolonged agony, tears of pain streaming down his cheeks. Richard was hoping Denna would put a stop to it, as he was on his last strings of tolerance. As Denna came out of her chair, a man came into the room.
“Mistress Denna, Master Rahl has requested you.”
“When?”
“Right now.”
Denna gave a sigh. “Constance, would you finish the session?”
Constance looked into Richard’s eyes and smiled. “Why, of course, Denna.”
Richard was terrified, but didn’t dare say a word.
“His time is nearly up, just take him back to my quarters and leave him there. I’m sure I won’t be long.”
“My pleasure, Denna. You can count on me.”
Denna started to leave. Constance grinned at him wickedly, her face close to his. She grabbed his belt and yanked it open. Richard couldn’t breathe.
“Constance”—Denna had come back in—”I don’t want you doing that.”
Constance was caught off guard. “In your absence, I’m in charge of him, and I’ll do as I wish.”
Denna came and put her face close to the other’s. “He is my mate, and I said I don’t want you to do that. And I don’t want you to put the Agiel in his ear either.”
“I’ll do as I…”
“You will not.” Denna gritted her teeth as she looked down to the shorter woman. “I am the one who took the punishment when we killed Rastin. Me. Not you and me, only me. I have never made a point of it before, but I do now. You know what they did to me, and I never told them you had a part in it. He is my mate, and I am his Mord-Sith. Not you. Me. You will respect my wishes or there is going to be trouble between us.”
“All right, Denna,” she huffed. “All right. I’ll mind your wishes.”
Denna still glared at her. “See that you do, Sister Constance.”
Constance finished the session with all the effort she could bring forth, although she kept the Agiel mostly where Denna wanted it. Richard knew it went on for longer than it should have. When she took him back to Denna’s quarters, she spent a good hour slapping him around, then hooked the chain over the footboard of the bed and told him he was to stand until Denna came back.
Constance put her face close to his, as best she could, considering her height, and grabbed him between his legs.
“Take good care of this for me,” she sneered. “You aren’t going to have it much longer. I have reason to believe Master Rahl will shortly be reassigning you to me, and when he does, I’m going to alter your anatomy.” A grin spread on her face. “And I don’t think you’re going to like it.”
His anger flashed, bringing on the pain of the magic. It took him to his knees. Constance laughed as she left the room. He managed to get the anger under control, but the pain wouldn’t stop until he stood.
Warm sunlight was streaming in the window. He hoped Denna would be returning soon. The sun set. Dinnertime came and went. Still Denna did not return. Richard began to worry. He had a feeling that something was