I never understood the right of denial until this. I was always wondering, why priests give people chance to lie? Why they pretend it is the truth when they know it isn’t? Now I got the answer. Yes, they tried to get lie from me. But the idea, that sometimes you have to endure, because regardless of cold facts you believe what you did was right, the simple fact that you have good reason to endure, it all gives you strength. I never thought I could endure. But I did. The day was almost over and they got nothing from me. The patron was furious, priest relieved and I remained to be stubborn. Nor whip nor glowing iron, nothing could get the answer they wanted from me. And I knew I will endure those hours left. I believed there is nothing they could do to me that would change my resolution.

And once again I underestimated patron. He ordered the priest to rest. Ordered them to bring Hildrin. They stripped her in front of me, shaved her head, mocked her, chained her to the wall and patron explained, that what was done to me, will be done to her. Just without healers to mend wounds after each set. Without breaks to ask questions. All in few hours remaining.

I closed my eyes, reminding myself that if I endure, they will have to let us go. All of us. And our healers can help her, can make her forget this night. I just need to endure her screams, her begging for help. I just have to endure.

And I could not. So I confessed to everything they asked from me.

They dragged Hildrin out, just patron stayed for a little longer, to tell me priest will send my confession to my house. And that in the morning, they will mark me bed slave and he will enjoy training me himself.

And when he left, I was broken. Then I remembered legends. Legends about those who have been wronged so badly that Parsenna heard their prayers for retribution. Legends about wraths of the goddess, bringing divine justice to the whole houses. And so I prayed.”