"I don't share your expertise, Thakur, so my opinion may not be valid.

Still, it sounds appropriate to me."

"So be it, then." Cortin smiled at him, approvingly. "Would you like to help? You seemed to enjoy yourself as much as an Inquisitor would, and Mike doesn't have that particular quirk; he helps because he loves me, not because he likes the work."

Keith hesitated briefly before answering. "It surprises me, Thakur, that I did enjoy it. But I would not displace Captain Odeon from something that brings you two close."

Cortin looked at her second in command. "What do you think, Mike?"

"If he wants it, he's got it," Odeon replied promptly. Turning to the Sandeman, he went on. "As she says, I don't have the mental quirk that lets me like hurting people; I'd be glad to get out of the job."

"It seems I do," Keith said. "At least since she wants this one to hurt, I took a great deal of pleasure in causing him as much pain as I could."

"It's all yours, then," Odeon said promptly. "With my thanks, by the way--which I'll demonstrate later, if you want."

"In the meantime," Cortin said, "I'm hungry. Let's go up to supper."

Return to main storyline: 31. Explanation

30c. Torture (Odeon's point of view)

Maybe an hour after Cortin began her preliminary examination, Odeon glanced toward the observation room, raised a hand in acknowledgement when he saw the light on above the window, and spoke softly to Cortin.

"Someone in the observation room, Excellency."

She turned that way. "Colonel Bradford?"

"Yes," Bradford replied over the intercom, "with Ranger Medart and Lt.

DarElwyn."

"If you'd care to, you're welcome to join me in here."

"Thank you, Excellency." Moments later, the three entered the large room, while Odeon hid his surprise. Joanie didn't normally allow anyone around during a third-stage session except Odeon himself or another Inquisitor!

"The interview went all right?" Cortin asked.

"Quite well," Bradford replied. "I'll get the operation moving as soon as I get back to my office."

"Good--thanks, both of you." Cortin turned back to her prisoner, still addressing the observers. "This one's nothing special, except in the number of his crimes and the fact that he wanted witnesses until he got to the last victim in each series. It was the rapes that were his particular thrill; the murders were enjoyable, but more of a side effect. So I'll be concentrating on the punishment for rape."

Although he'd been her a.s.sistant for a little over a year, Odeon--as Illyanov had predicted--still didn't like the work; he helped only because he loved Cortin, and there were things her own torture and maiming by the Brothers had left her physically unable to do, until Jeshua, and later Shayan, had healed those injuries. She could do most of them now, everything that didn't require a man's extra muscle, and he could've asked to be excused, but she liked having him around, and they were both used to the routine. So he stayed--though part of him regretted the end of his three-week "vacation", studying with DeLayne.

Keith, unlike Odeon--and Medart, from his expression--seemed to have a true appreciation of Cortin's intent and ability. Not, Odeon told himself, that he should be surprised; from his studies, Sandemans considered it perfectly honorable to torture a captured enemy for information, and certain offenses against honor or custom demanded the offender's lingering death. But they were more direct about it; a beating was the usual method.

It was several hours before Cortin was satisfied with the prisoner's general condition: his entire body except the genital region so bruised or abraded that even a light touch brough curses.

She stepped back to survey him, then smiled at her audience. "That takes care of the preliminaries; now we can get to the real punishment." She went to a cabinet, removed a vial and syringe.

"This is eroticine," she said, forcing the liquid in the vial down her prisoner's throat. "In small doses, it's a male aphrodisiac. In larger ones, like this, it forces an erection and increases s.e.m.e.n production by several hundred percent. He has no way to stimulate o.r.g.a.s.m, so that is forced out by simple hydraulic pressure--quite uncomfortable, I've been a.s.sured. This dose is oral, so he'll be that way for about twelve hours." She picked up a syringe, cleared it of air. "And this is algetin, a pain-enhancer that's most effective on swollen tissue such as an erection. It's a combination I think particularly appropriate for a rapist."

"An intriguing combination," Keith said. Moments later, when the man's erection firmed and grew moist, he looked curious. "Is that wetness normal, or is it a drug effect?"

"Neither, Lieutenant; it's a side effect of the satyr plague."

"I see." Keith paused, c.o.c.king his head. "You said he can't bring himself to climax, Excellency, and this does seem effective--but what would happen if he did? Would it be a temporary relief, or would the algetin make it as much an agony as it usually is a pleasure?"

Odeon frowned to himself. That sounded more like Joanie than it did like the Sandemans he'd read about. Still, this was the first one he'd actually met . . . and Joanie was considering her answer.

After several seconds, Cortin said thoughtfully, "We're cautioned against it in training, since it's presumed o.r.g.a.s.m would bring relief; if anyone had experimented and found otherwise, it should've been reported in the professional literature. Since I've never read about such an experiment, I doubt it's ever been tried--but now that you suggest it, the idea seems plausible. If you'd like to try, Lieutenant, be my guest."

"No," Medart said firmly. "He can observe, since this is within your law; taking part would go against a number of the laws that govern the Imperial military." He turned to the Sandeman. "What's wrong, Lieutenant? You're not acting like any warrior I've ever met--including yourself, a couple of days ago."

"I feel fine, sir--I'm just not embarra.s.sed by his display, the way I'd have expected, and I . . . admire Colonel Cortin's work, which I wouldn't have expected at all."

"Just how strong is this admiration, Lieutenant?"

Keith looked from Ranger to Inquisitor and back, his expression answering Medart's question before he spoke. "Strongly enough that if I thought there was any chance of acceptance, I would offer her my fealty."

Cortin looked at him thoughtfully, then smiled. "If that means what I believe it does, Lieutenant, you'd be in no danger of refusal."

Keith returned the smile, then acted on her promise and knelt.

"Colonel Joan Cortin, I wish you as my chosen lady, if that should be your will. I offer all that is in me to give: body and mind, will and honor, whatever courage is mine. And death itself may not deny the service I offer, in whatever afterlife is to come."

Oh, dear G.o.d! Odeon thought in a mixture of fear and awe. An oath like that, to the acting Protector? And Ivan's prediction that the true one could come from the Empire, which he'd accepted without really believing. And the timing--over four months ago, Shayan had declared himself their reluctant and temporary ally, informing them the true Protector would manifest in less than six months. He sent that ally a thought. *It has to be Keith, doesn't it?*

He felt Shayan exploring his recent memories, then agreement. *It would seem so. I cannot say when or how the exchange will be made, however.*

*Then will come what you've been calling the decision point.*

*Indeed. Were I you, I would increase my devotional activities, particularly the Ma.s.s--I give you leave to say it as often as you wish--the Rosary, and the Litany of the archangel whose name you share.

Now I would recommend you get back to work.*

*Yes, Your Holiness.* Odeon's attention returned to his surroundings in time to see Cortin extend her hands to Keith, smiling.

"I accept your service and yourself with thanks, warrior."

Keith took her hands and rose, then bowed to her. "You do me great honor, Thakur."

"The honor is mine," Cortin replied. "Are there any formalities that need to be taken care of?"

"I'll handle those when we finish here," Medart said. "His release from service, back pay and allowances--but it'll be up to you to notify his clan and make arrangements for his tattoo."

"When we're done here, as you say." Cortin turned to her new sworn man. "To give you a status recognized here, I'm commissioning you a Royal Enforcement Service officer. Now, would you like to test your theory?"

"Very much, Thakur." Keith paused, then continued apologetically.

"I'm afraid I don't know how, though. One of our strongest customs forbids any same-s.e.x physical intimacy. Since it seems yours doesn't, that no longer applies to me, of course--but the fact remains that I have no such experience."