Chapter 129

Rue and his Brothers went first. They each took thirty vicious swings of the whip to their backs. Several of the men cried out loudly, which elicited a cheer from the other men in the room. Bets were won and lost as the whip cracked.

I watched the blood drip from the wounds and cringed. The General's treatment of me had been far less harsh and I remembered the pain. Despite the joy Master Damien and his Brothers felt at their cousin's treatment, I felt sorry for all of them.

Looking up, I found Nu-reeh staring at me.

"Do you have a tolerance for pain?" she asked bluntly.

"No, Mistress," I answered honestly.

"Concentrate on Bane or Damien," she told me. "I refuse to listen to your piteous screams. Your owners are legendary for their tolerance and I am proud of them. Do not dishonor the family."

Master Damien took his lashes first and I concentrated on Master Bane. He was bored. The family had been whipped many times, this was nothing new.