“He has the patience of a hunter. Isn’t that right?” she said stubbornly. “We might go on like this until it’s time for you to release me. I’m sure we’re all ready for that to happen. Tell him to let me go early. Let’s be done with each other for good.”
“Tell him yourself. If I’m right, he won’t be far behind me.”
* * *
Tok tore some meatoff with his teeth, chewing slowly when Wex strode back to the kitchen.
“She won’t eat.”
“Good,” Tok said, tearing off another chunk.
“Good?”
He chewed and swallowed. “Go out. Enjoy the sky. Seduce a village girl into sucking your cock.”
After a beat, Wex said, “I think there might be better entertainment here.”
He shook his head. “She’ll be harder to break if there’s an audience.”
“You think she’ll let you break her?”
“She won’t have a choice in that.”
“If you do it, she’s going to hate you more than she does. Can you take that?” Wex asked.
Tok leveled a gaze on his brother’s face.
Wex held out his hands in surrender. “I’ve just never seen you like this.”
“Like what?”
“Transfixed and distracted by the actions of a woman.”
“She’s my responsibility. I took her as handmaiden to our crew. Until she’s released, the welfare of her body rests with me.”
“With all of us. Rollow mostly. He could force-feed her. He said as much.”
“Her refusal to eat isn’t out of anger at him. I’m the one she’s punishing.”
“She has no right to punish you!” Wex snapped. “You did more than she had a right to expect. They brought this on themselves. That silly sister of hers and her too.”
Tok held up a hand. “I’ll settle this. Go out. Enjoy yourself.”
Wex spun on his heel and stalked out. Tok finished his food, then washed. He took the leather strap from his pack and added it to the small collection he’d gathered earlier in the day. He found Rollow in his room reading.
“Go enjoy the sky and the village.”
“Is that a suggestion? Or more than that?”
“More.”
Roll set aside his auto com screen and rose. “Do you need anything for after? Lotion with aris extract?”
“I have what I need.”
Rollow nodded and left.
* * *
