“I don’t give adamnwas it means.”
“You should.” And there again, that expression on Dourin’s face, strange because it was new. “Bondmates are chosen to bear children for the empire. It is their duty. But bondmates are forced pairs. Sometimes a partner is not willing. Sometimes neither partner is. There are rules. An elven child must be produced, or there are consequences. To keep elves from revolting, bondmates—” He broke off, and Venick was suddenly sure he didn’t want to hear the rest. “It is more than just a coupling. Raffanownsher. He owns her until she bears his child. That is the law.”
“To hell with your laws.”
“We are elves. We are ruled by our laws.”
As if that explained anything. As if thathelped. It didn’t. Reeking gods, it made it worse.
“In the legion, commanders have the right to erect their own punishments,” Dourin explained. “We have all faced beatings. But a commander knows to temper his punishments. He knows not to push too hard or he will lose his troops. It has happened before. If elves resist, the wing falls apart. But with Ellina—she resists Raffan all the time. Not just as his subordinate, but as his bondmate. She refuses him. To be with him, to bear his child. Her rejection embarrasses him, and Raffan hates her for it. Or he does not, maybe. That is not the point. He manipulates her. He lets her break the rules so that he can punish her. And she does break the rules. All thetime.” Dourin spread his fingers helplessly. “She plays into his hand. And Raffan, as her commander and bondmate, is cruel to her. But he is not wrong.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I want you to understand.” Dourin’s gaze leveled. “She chose to accept your punishment.”
“She should not have.” He felt his anguish anew.
“No. It will make things worse for her.” Dourin peered at him. “Usually, the offer to accept punishments is done between lovers. I knew Raffan would be suspicious when he saw you alive, but her offer to protect you sealed her fate. And yours.”
“There is nothing between us.”
“Could you say that in elvish? Couldshe?”
Venick was silent.
The agony that had gripped him since Ellina’s whipping seemed to pace. It became animal, its yellow eyes glaring, ready to lunge, to swallow him whole. Venick wanted to bury his head in his hands. He wanted to find Ellina. He knew it was wrong to want it. He knew it made things worse.
He knew whose fault this was.
“Where is she?” Venick asked.
“With him.” Venick stared. “After he whips her, he bandages her. It is a commander’s duty.”
“Untie me.”
“I do not think so.
“Untie me.”
“You are going to do something stupid.”
“I’m going to kill him.”
“With what weapon?” Dourin arched a brow. “Your fists? Even if you were the better fighter—and you are not—you cannot hope to win that fight.” Dourin looked up as if considering. “Ellina took your punishment. By our laws, that absolves you of your crimes. Raffan should set you free.” He dropped his eyes. A hard stare. “You may have noticed that he has not.”
Venick guessed Dourin’s meaning. “He wants to kill me.”
“Oh, surely. But he will not.”
“Then what?”
“Raffan wants many things, I suspect. Ellina told some pretty lies for you. Very nice, very clever. But there is a problem. RaffanknowsEllina. He knows she is hiding something. He wants to understand the real reason you are still alive. Maybe he will ask her for her secrets in elvish. Maybe not. It is a delicate game we elves play. But withyou,” Dourin motioned with his hands. “You are not an elf. And Raffan will not be asking.”
“Torture?” Venick shook his head slowly. “I can handle it.”
“How presumptuous of you.”
“All soldiers are taught how.”
