Chapter 93

Master Christof filled the bathing pool with water and I stepped into it. The warm water swirled against my thighs and I sunk down. I splashed the water up over my shoulders and enjoyed feeling it flowing off. My eyes drifted closed and I relaxed in the water.

Strong hands smoothed over my back and I leaned into them. When a second set ran over my front, I opened my eyes. Everyone had silently entered the bathtub.

Master Christof took the lead, but they shared the task of bathing me. They also continued to ask questions. It was working, I thought, they seemed to like the new way to look at things.

Again and again over the next five days, we had similar conversations. They kept wanting to compare their position to mine, but I kept pointing out the differences. I insisted they were not slaves.

"So," Master Bane said on the fourth day, "we are not slaves, but we do not wish to be in the mountains. We want to go back to the compound and have our slave back."