"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 assistant 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 semen
production by several hundred percent. He has no way to stimulate
orgasm, so that is forced out by simple hydraulic pressure--quite
uncomfortable, I've been assured. 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, cocking 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 orgasm 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 embarrassed 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 God! 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 Mass--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-sex 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."
Cortin chuckled. "That can be remedied easily enough, if you decide
you want to, but for your present purposes you don't need experience.
All you have to do is take hold of him, snugly enough to provide a
friction surface but not tight. The eroticine will make him take care
of the rest."
"That sounds simple enough." Keith reached for the prisoner.
The Sandeman didn't look too sure of himself, Odeon thought, when he
took hold of the prisoner's erection and the man began moving. Well,
Keith had said he had no experience with men . . . It looked like he
was a quick study, though--starting to rub and squeeze in a way Odeon
was sure he'd like to experience. Without the drugs, of course.
And, Odeon thought, it seemed pretty clear that Keith enjoyed the pain
he was inflicting. That brief smile as moans became cries reminded him
again of Joanie; Keith's reaction to his first third-stage was a far
cry from Odeon's own. Still, he told himself, maybe Keith's pleasure
shouldn't be a surprise, since the Protector's role included the
punishment of sinners.
The Sandeman's smile grew as the prisoner's moves became faster, more
urgent, and Odeon was surprised he could keep hold, but he managed--and
the prisoner climaxed in a prolonged series of spasms, screaming in
agony.