“Don’t bother,” I said, automatically stroking the sides of his waist in a soothing motion. When I realized what I was doing, I stopped immediately.
“He’s going to tell the story the way he wants to tell it, no matter how thoroughly you explain it to him,” I said.
“He’s not going to tell the story at all,” Pharis countered. “Not after I’ve finished with him.”
I tensed behind him. Dardick certainly wasn’t my favorite person, but beyond a few rude remarks and unwanted advances, he’d never really harmed me or my family.
“Pharis, really. He’s annoying, but I’m not sure that’s worthy of the death penalty.”
He snorted. “What do you think I am? I’m not going to kill the vermin—I wouldn’t soil my blade with his peasant blood. I’m going to Sway him until he can hardly remember his own name.”
I blinked. Oh. Stellon had told me about Sway, but I’d never seen it in use.
Firming his tone, Pharis repeated, “Come. Closer.”
Dardick immediately obeyed, sliding from his saddle and staggering over to us.
Pharis got down from Dargan’s back and faced him, towering over the average-sized human man.
Staring him in the eyes, he said, “You never saw us—either of us. You rode home, and the village road was empty.”
“Empty,” Dardick repeated in a dazed sounding tone. “Never saw anyone.”
“That’s right.”
Pharis sounded somewhat satisfied but not entirely. He chewed the inside of his cheek for a second then resumed his hypnotic commands.
“Also, you had a bad night at the gambling hall. Unfortunately, you lost everything you had on you—including your fine clothing.” He paused. “Take it off. All of it.”
“Lost it all,” Dardick said sadly.
Immediately he began to strip his garments. I watched in stunned disbelief to see if he’d really go through with it.
He did. Within minutes, he stood there naked as the day he was born, his clothes in a pile around his feet.
For all his loud bragging about his sexual prowess, I saw nothing about Dardick’s physique to justify it.
Pharis looked him over, an expression of disdain painting his face.
“You have a nice horse, peasant, but that’s where your bragging rights end. I think it’s about time your village knew it.”
Dardick just stared blankly and nodded as Pharis went on.
“You’ll wait till daylight, until all the townspeople are out and about, and then you’ll walk down the center road. Only after you’ve made sure everyone gets a look will you go inside your own home and dress yourself.”
“Everyone gets a look,” Dardick said obediently.
Pharis turned away and moved toward his own horse again but stopped and turned back.
“One more thing… you will stayfaraway from Raewyn Hennessey—and her family,” he said. “Except when you leave your monthly ‘anonymous’ donations at their door from all that excess wealth you bragged about—an apology for your past behavior toward her. It’s only fair.”
Dardick nodded dreamily. “Far away. Only fair.”
Pharis left the man standing there and mounted Dargan again, behind me this time.
He gave the command to trot, calling back over his shoulder, “See ya round, Dick.”
“It’s Dardick,” I heard the naked man mumble behind us.
