Enter the Cave of Mirrors

As the wagons were left behind the beast was allowed to lengthen his stride. I ran the woman for a long time. Until her breaths were ragged and I saw the sweat began to glisten on her body. And then I reined in Kai and we slowed to a walk. That is when I started questioning her. I would allow nothing sexual to enter between us. There would be no desire to cloud her answers. Physical exertion only. Always now the rhythm of the steps and the sound of the kaiila paws upon the plain. Her conscious mind would have to keep that rhythm or fall and be drug by the leather leash binding her wrists. Her subconscious mind would have to step up and aid the answering of my questions.

It was then I started her talking. I asked her where her fears were that clouded her mind. She asked me if I thought a woman could love two at one time. I would never allow her to see how that question effected me. But I told her my opinion. I believed a slave could love two men at one time. I did not believe a free woman could. She told me she was once confused between two men. She told me several other things. Things that led me to believe that in her heart, in her core, she was a slave. I did not lead her answers, nor her questions. I let her plot the way at first until I knew. It was only then I began to guide her through the mists of her own denial.