"Stop," she heard his voice while her back was still to him. Amber halted her spin, for some reason more fearful now that she could no longer see him, her chest rising and falling.

"Take them off," Moragon said.

Amber again reminded herself why she was doing this. She had more than herself to worry about. She had to live.

She pushed the undergarment from her hips, moving her legs to allow them to fall to her ankles. Amber kicked them away.

"Good. Now turn around again."

Amber turned, and felt fear course through her. Moragon was up from his desk, standing close, in front of her. He looked over her one last time, his eyes burning over the most intimate parts of her body.

He suddenly grabbed Amber's arm and twisted it behind her back. He pushed her down to the hard floor.

She cried out.

~

WHEN he was finished, he did what all men did, closing his eyes and rolling over, heedless of the hard floor.

This next part was important.

Amber thrust out her hand to where a glistening sword stood on a rack nearby. She could just touch it with the tip of her finger. Amber ran her fingertip over the edge of the blade, making no reaction as it sliced through her skin. Compared to what she had done here, the pain was nothing.

Amber thrust her hand down between her legs and let the blood drip onto her thighs.

She nudged Moragon. "See, High Lord," she said, gesturing with her head.

Moragon opened his eyes, looking to where she indicated.

"I told you I was a virgin," Amber said.

Moragon saw the blood, and then grunted. "Are you still here, girl?" He sat up. "Get out of here."

Amber shakily stood, ignoring the messages of pain her body sent her. "Yes, High Lord." She looked for her dress, hurriedly pulling it on, and then slipped the heeled sandals back onto her feet.

"You'll get your food, girl."

"Thank you, High Lord."

Amber left the tent, trying to walk tall, ignoring the shared glances of the bodyguards; they'd probably heard everything.

"Here," the bodyguard who had searched her said, "I'll get you an escort, to take you back to the camp."

Amber didn't reply. She was already planning.

With increased freedom, she would be able to do more to help the other prisoners.

She would wait three weeks, and then she would visit Moragon again.

This next time, Amber would tell him she was carrying his child.

22

22

"THE gaps in a legionnaire's defences are in the throat, the pit of the arms, and the lower legs. Go for the throat first, but don't be afraid to hold him off and await your opportunity. Your opponents will be armoured and will tire faster than you will. Use this to your advantage." Rogan paused for breath, and one of the young Halrana raised his arm. "Yes?"