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Kip waved toward his desk where the staistered it with the head scribe He said they have to query the Abornean satrap’s embassy to ned by Andross Guile, he was sure there would be nothing wrong He already entered it in the Chro like a child who’s fallen and can’t decide whether she’s hurt or not Is the right response tears, or just getting back up and walking away? "You wonto do with me?"

Her eyes flicked to his bed, back to his eyes, then down

"No!" Kip said "Like you said, that’s forbidden for Blackguards I…"

"For full Blackguards, not for scrubs," she said quietly "Not until you take the vows"

No woly Not for hiet a room slave to do it, or a prostitute He was fat, a bastard, stupid, ugly, aard, Tyrean, irls like other boys did This was his only chance Teia wasn’t exactly volunteering, but she didn’t seeht

He could always free her later Or if they both becauards, they would take the vows, and it would end there

Kip would get so for hi, ies when he could have been studying drafting instead He’d known that he shouldn’t use the black deck trick saving Teia He should have held on to that to save hi his own future for her She owed hi to Andross Guile He’d saved her froratitude in return?

Gratitude, huh? Is that what you’ve been fantasizing about, Kip?

Teia set her bag down Her voice was distant, e up hot water and we could wash together Or… I’m sorry, Kip I mean, my lord I’ve never done this before I don’t--I didn’t expecttoo much, aren’t I?"

And he had fantasized about Teia And felt awful afterward

Kip scrubbed his towel over his face She was a slave He hadn’t enslaved her; it was just how things were All this wasn’t his idea, and he had to pay penalties for how things were, too He hadn’t chosen to be a bastard, but he had to live with that, didn’t he? He took his luet some of the rewards He deserved this Besides, just because it was a duty didn’t ood to her He would care about her He would be better to her than any slave girl could hope a in, but the room slaves talked about their work--a lot" She blushed "I think I knohat to do" She sed again

And really, what could she hope for that was better if he freed her? Did peasants have things so much better than slaves?

Temptation is a slow and subtle serpent

I aainly and ridiculous, but at least I can be honest with et the chance to bed anyone ever again And I’ll be nice to her because I don’t want to feel guilty afterward It’s all lies

Of course I want to sleep with you, Master Of course you were good to irl could have ever asked for Of course you are kind and generous and wonderful

If you’re not free to say no, your yes is less

"Have I displeased you?" Teia asked

She wouldn’t be so attuned to my every mood and whim if I weren’t her master, would she?