Echos of the Past

----- in the heat of the day, the horses hooves kicking up choking clouds of dust from the beaten trail.... in the lead, King Leotin's expression was grim with determination..... and a haunted shimmer of fear in his eyes ----

---- God only knew what the barbarians had done to his daughter, of that he didn't want to think. She was safe now. Safe..... save the fact that she was riding behind him next to her brother Staza. Once again, she had gotten her willful way. Leotin was a king who would stand up to the devil himself.... but his heart was weak when it came to Imari ---

-- The shadows crossing his face were born of memories.... Little Arissa, so tender and young, riding the huge black stallion that belonged to her father.. appearing to the palace ----

--- her poor torso was scarred.... her mother and father dead. And Leotin had brought her to him as one of his own. And now, poor Arissa was back in the hands of the demons who had damaged her body and mind so long ago ---

Leotin: (closes his eyes a moment, praying that mercy will be with her) (then his eyes snap open as the knights ahead call out)

--- Rider on the Trail, M'Lord! ----

Imari: (her fingers gripping the reigns tighter)

Leotin: (his eyes not too old to make out the rider approaching, waving the green flag of a messenger)

Staza: (calls to his father) Could be a trick.

Leotin: Could be. But touch him not. Allow him to ride in... (puts up a hand to halt the front line)

Imari: (her eyes on the messenger as he rides forth)

------ all the way back, hands are raised to pass the word along... and the army stops -----

Staza: (unsheathes his sword, the metal singing)

Imari: (filled with dread, her knuckles white)

Tibin: (rides forward, his horse in a slow trot)

Tibin: (reins his horse in as he stops before the King, flanked by the King's knights and very aware of the weapons drawn in threat to him)

Tibin: Hail, King Leotin of Palicide.

Imari: (anxious of his message, praying that Arissa is still alive)

Imari: (her hair flowing down her back, her face a mask of worry)

Leotin: Hail, Rider of Allendor. Be quick with your words. My army lusts the blood of your kind. But peace can be possible, if you bring word for the return of my child.

Tibin: I bring word of your child indeed. Though not happy words, I fear. (starts to reach into his pouch and finds a sword tip at his throat)

Tibin: Easy, lads...

Tibin: (pulls the pendant out carefully)

Imari: (gasps)

Leotin: (nods to the knight with his sword to Tibin)

Imari: (tears flooding her eyes, trying to keep her composure, wishing once again she could turn back time...)

Knight: (doesn't lower his sword immediately, glaring at Tibin)

Tibin: (hangs the pendant on the end of the sword) This comes from the neck of the child along with this message.

Tibin: Allendor offers a trade.

Knight: (passes the pendant to Leotin)

Imari: (knowing how much Arissa would hate being referred to as "the child")

Leotin: (takes the pendant and looks at it, then tightens his hold on the silver crest of the family)

Imari: ((yess!  anything!!  all my jewels...anything!!))

Leotin: What does Allendor want?

Tibin: They want their prize back.

Staza: (quirks a brow) ((Prize?))

Imari: (eyes fly open, crying out softly)

Leotin: What is this?

Imari: (hands trembling, her mind revolting..) ((oh noooooo))

Tibin: (nods toward Imari)

Staza: NO.

Leotin: (outrage passes over his face) Preposterous.

Imari: (tears streaming down her face, lip quivering)

Imari: Father, It was my fault....I should like to take her place.  She does not deserve to suffer for my foolishness...

Leotin: I offer gold. Horses. Name your price. But my daughter is not bargain. SILENCE, Imari.

Imari: (her voice breaking)

Staza: (reaches over, touching her)

Imari: (quickly silences)

Imari: (turns towards Staza, a tortured expression on her face)

Tibin: Allendor offers only this proposal. Tomorrow at sunset, the Prize is to be at the Pass of Allendor.  She will walk the pass alone, as the child walks the pass alone, and they will cross.

Leotin: Impossible.

Tibin: Then...... the unfortunate is foretold.

Imari: (taking it all in, horrified)

Imari: NOOOoo...he can not hurt HER!!

Leotin: If you heathens lay a finger upon her.. (his voice filled with rage)

Imari: ((she has been hurt enough..))

Tibin: If the prize does not cross the pass by nightfall tomorrow, then the child will be ravaged....

Staza: NO.. BY THE GODS we will RIDE into Allendor and burn it down!

Imari: (shaking her head no, not wanting to believe his words, the impossibleness of them)

Tibin: By the Gods you will die before your flame can be raised.....

Leotin: Why.... Why this....

Imari: (her thoughts racing) ((there has to be a way, there has to be a way...))

Tibin: I am but a messenger, M'lord. But Allendor wants it's prize... and if it is not returned, then the child will become a woman... by the hands of many... until she is nothing but a common whore.

Staza: (closes his eyes)

Leotin: (water fills his eyes)

Imari: (goes deathly pale, leaning over the side of her horse and losing the contents of her stomach)

Leotin: This is a bargain I cannot meet. THIS is my answer to Allendor.. (drawing his dagger abruptly and hurling it into Tibin's chest)

Tibin: (gurgles, grabbing the hilt in his chest.. then slumps forward)

Leotin: We camp here. And tomorrow, we go home. (closes his eyes in sorrow)

-------------------------------------------------

--- the spring fed water is warm as Jaeger looks across at the young girl ----

Arissa: (gives him a long, emotionless look)

Jaeger: (something burns in his cold eyes)

Jaeger: (moves toward her)

Arissa: (sunk down into the water up to her shoulders, the tips of her hair getting wet as it falls around her, backing up as far as she can, her stomach twisting in knots)

Jaeger: (stops before her, looking down) Stand up. (a quiet order)

Arissa: (hesitates a moment, her eyes flashing with an unnamed emotion, takes a steadying breath before rising slowly up out of the water)

Jaeger: (looks down her body, over her small but well shaped breasts, her taunt stomach and slim hips)

Arissa: (watching his expression, certain he will be repulsed and taken off guard by her scars)

Jaeger: (his eyes traveling back to a white jagged scar)

Jaeger: (lifts a hand and traces it, his own body has many scars)

Arissa: (sucks in a breath, fists clenched at her side)

Arissa: (gritting her teeth, wondering why he isn't sneering at her small body, her scars..)

Jaeger: Tell me about this scar. (his face betraying no emotion)

Arissa:  You aren't the first Allendor scum I've had dealings with.  (lifts her chin a little)

Jaeger: (repeats) Tell me about this scar

Arissa: It’s a scar, from a sword....(decides it might not be best to be too flippant) It is old, I got it over ten years ago.  I was seven.

Arissa: (not wanting to talk about it, or think of that day, hoping that will satisfy him)

Jaeger: Go on... you were seven... (touching the scar again, then running his hand down her side and over her hip. His hand light on her)

Arissa: (a shiver running through her at his light touch, thinking he must be a master at torture...to so easily sense her weaknesses....) I was seven and had been traveling with my mother and father.  My father had been on some sort of errand...I do not know exactly what (her voice sounding kind of distant to her own ears as she pieces together what little she recollects..)

Jaeger: (listens to her)

Arissa: (glancing at his face, hating that this man is seeing her scars, she had long ago not let anyone see her dress or help her bathe) I do not remember much....(shrugs lightly) I just remember my father making me hide...it was someplace dark and I had thought it was a game, So, when I got scared I climbed out of my hiding place and spotted him.  I called out to him and ran towards him..

Jaeger: Turn around.

Arissa: (blinks away the broken memories, a lump in her throat, as she slowly turns around) My father was a great warrior, the best....(sneers) Allendor scum would NEVER have been able to kill him if I hadn't distracted him..

Jaeger: So your father is not the King..... (his statement is a question, but the inflection is not asking)

Arissa: (almost suffocating with the guilt and pain, harsh laugh) I am but an orphan.

Arissa: ((good, let him choke on his bad fortune....a little bodied, scarred orphan..))

Jaeger: (looks down her back, over her ass, his dark eyes following her legs down into the water)

Jaeger: Have you lain with a man before?

Arissa: (stiffens)

Arissa: (refuses to answer)

Jaeger: Tell me now Or I shall see for myself. (lip curling)

Arissa: (wondering why she had to turn around, wanting to sink back into the water) ((should I tell him the truth?? will he gain more satisfaction knowing that I am untouched..??)) I....

Arissa: Have not. (deciding against lying, realizing he would just get all the more enjoyment from her pathetic attempt of deception when he discovered the truth)

Jaeger: Then wash up.

Jaeger: (moves away from her) And use soap.

Arissa: (sinks back into the water, grabbing the soap, running it over her chest and stomach)

Jaeger: (washes up on the other side of the pool then calls for his slave) Miadon!

Miadon: (comes to the arched doorway) Yes, my Master?

Arissa: ((maybe he was repulsed and is just good at covering his feelings..))  ((maybe he's toying with you))

Jaeger: See that she bathes well then bring her to my chamber. She is not to have clothing. (walks up the steps out of the water and lets Miadon settle a wrap over his shoulders for him to dry off) She is nimble and sly. Leave her naked.

Arissa: (eyes narrow on him)

Arissa: (slips underneath the water, closing her eyes)

Miadon: Yes, my master. Will you want her perfumed?

Jaeger: (glances back at her)

Jaeger: No. She is succulent enough. (turns with a swish of the cloak, and exits)

Arissa: (surfaces, tilting her head back, and ringing out her hair)

Miadon: (turns to watch the girl, his old eyes calm)

Arissa: (thinks of the uncertainty that is to come, glancing up at Miadon)

Miadon: (does not look unpleasant, but rather resigned)

Arissa: ((it would serve him right.....take the pleasure out of it for him.....not let him use me as a pawn))  (taking another deep breath and letting it all out slowly before slipping under the water again)

Arissa: (surfaces, gasping for breath)  ((coward!!))

Miadon: (cocks his head to her)

Miadon: The master awaits.

Arissa: (scowls at him)

Miadon: It is best not to keep him too long.

Arissa: Not best for me...

Arissa: (rising out of the water)

Arissa: ((I'll find a way to escape...sooner or later his guard will be down))

Miadon: If you wish to survive, it is best.

Miadon: (holding a cloth to dry her)

Arissa: (taking the cloth, patting herself dry, ringing out her hair)

Arissa: (looking for her clothes, hating to be naked)

Miadon: You will not need clothing. Follow me.

Arissa: I need clothing!

Miadon: (his elderly robed figure slow but steady) It is not permitted.

Arissa: (eyes widening) But...

Miadon: (moving up the stair)

Arissa: (eyeing his robes enviously, following him slowly up the stairs)

Miadon: (leads her through the house. It is not lavish but functional. There is art and sculptures and faintly there is music playing, coming from somewhere outside )

Arissa: (clasping her hands over her belly, covering her scar as she walks, mentally cursing her short hair again, her eyes darting around the house, looking for future ways of escape, memorizing the layout)

--- a female slave watches her pass ----

--- then quickly goes back to work as Miadon gives her a quick look, but her eyes still follow Arissa ----

Arissa: (her eyes scanning over the slave as they pass, feeling even smaller, if possible, now that she is unclothed)

Miadon: (stops in the entrance to Jaeger's chambers, motioning her inside)

Arissa: (halts outside, desperately not wanting to walk through the door, going over her other options....realizing she doesn't have much of a choice unless she wants to get dragged inside, lifts her chin slightly, straightening her shoulders as she steps inside)

--- the room is large. There is a divan on one side, animal skins on the floor. the bed is draped with sheer colored clothes... the cloths part and Jaeger rises from the bed ----

Jaeger: (nods to Miadon)

--- the door closes behind Arissa with a thud of finality ---

Arissa: (scanning the room for weapons)

--- no weapons are visible but there are chains on one wall, hooked to the wall, with a set of shackles ----

---- the only weapons visible are two riding whips, one long, like a buggy whip, the other short and flat, like a riding crop ----

Arissa: (stares at the chains for a moment, then forces herself to look away, concentrating on keeping her breathing calm, determined not to show her fear)

Arissa: (grits her teeth seeing the whips, realizing they wouldn't be much use to her, she needs something that would hurt or kill fast...)

Jaeger: (gazes at her)

Jaeger: What, I wonder, would it take to make you scream.

Arissa: (shrugs lightly)

Jaeger: You who do not fear me. You who do not tremble. (moves closer to her, lifting the riding crop from the table as he passes)

Arissa: (his words echoing in her head, counting slowly in her mind to distract herself, refusing to look at him or the whip)

Jaeger: (walks around her, pausing as he stands behind her) Not a flinch.... Most impressive. Not even a shiver. (runs the crop down her backbone)

Arissa: (the leather sliding across her skin, instinctively wanting to jerk away, but stays perfectly still, forcing her body to relax, finding a spot on the wall staring at it)

Jaeger: (traces a scar on her back with the crop) You have been whipped before.... long ago.....

Arissa: (shrugs her shoulders lightly again, as if it is of no concern, pushing all those thoughts out of her head)

Arissa: Are you devastated that you will not be the first?

Jaeger: (his brows furrow a bit)

Jaeger: No matter.

Jaeger: (shrugs off the cloak, naked beneath)

Arissa: (small smile) My thoughts exactly. 

Jaeger: (moves his large hand to the back of her neck, gripping her there)

Arissa: (tenses momentarily, then forces herself to go lax)

Jaeger: Did your father beat you?

Jaeger: (keeping one hand on the back of her neck, his other running the crop down over her ass, lightly... to watch the goose bumps rise on her skin)

Arissa: Why do you care who beat me?? I survived to meet this day....your turn...

Jaeger: Just a curiosity, really.... There is no doubt I will beat you. You are insolent. Who knows, you may even enjoy it.

Arissa: My father was not the one who beat me, and I can assure you that I will enjoy nothing that YOU do to me..

Jaeger: Then I accept that challenge.

Jaeger: (roughly pushes her head forward, forcing her to bend over)

Arissa: (bending over, thankful he let the matter of the whippings drop)

Jaeger: (draws back the crop and slaps her ass hard, leaving a red round mark)

Arissa: (staring down at her toes, sucking in a breath at the first slap, her ass stinging, remaining silent)

Jaeger: (brings the crop back and slaps her again in the same spot) (then pulls her head back, forcing her straight again)

Arissa: (breathing in through her nose and letting it out through her mouth, trying to control the pain, gets jerked back, memories flooding her from long ago)

Jaeger: (gripping her neck, he moves her forward towards the bed)

Arissa: (feeling so small and helpless next to him, eyes rounding as they near the bed)

Jaeger: (pushes her down on her stomach on the bed, her hips on the edge, legs hanging off)

Arissa: (braces her arms on either side of her head,trying to push herself up)

Jaeger: (keeping that hand on her neck, pinching)

Jaeger: Don't move. If you disobey, I will whip you and not with this "toy"...

Arissa: (hissing)  I am not afraid of you! (wishing her words were true, wanting to lash out, feeling so defenseless)

Jaeger: (slowly releases her neck, ready in case she decides to move)

Arissa: (turns her head to the side, her heart pounding in her chest, hating the silence, hating laying their, almost thinking the whip is more preferable than lying here exposed like this)

Jaeger: (runs his hand over her ass again)

Jaeger: (watching her profile as he slides his hand between her thighs)

Arissa: (nostrils flaring, panic threatening to rise up, gets control of herself) (sneers) Tis comforting to know that my mother is more adept with a whip than Allendor scum....

Jaeger: Ahhhhh.. It was your mother... (presses his finger against her clit, putting firm pressure there and moving his finger in a slow circle)

Jaeger: Did you hate her? Want her dead? (all the while his finger moving)

Arissa: (the sensitive flesh quivering beneath his touch, her hands curling into the bed covering, trying to block out the strange sensations and fighting so hard to keep her composure) Noo...of course not.  I loved her, I was just a bad little girl..

Arissa: ((men rut on woman everyday...tis nothing...nothing special.....relax..relax...tis nothing))

Jaeger: (feeling the heat and moisture grow against his finger) But you were Father's pet, weren't you? (lowers his mouth to her ass, licking, nipping the flesh there, his finger still pressing on her clit, and now his thumb rubbing at her entry)

Arissa: (inhaling sharply, feeling her buttocks growing hotter, the stinging pain from the lashes in sharp contrast to his mouth, his fingers and thumb evoking strange and unwanted sensations, her small body stiffening beneath at his onslaught) He loved me very much...he would let me go everywhere with him...and answer all my questions.  But, I was very bothersome...always wanting to tag along

Jaeger: (pushing his thumb inside of her) And Mother so resented you, didn't she? Always following your Father around. He ruffling the dark hair on your little head

Arissa: (closing her eyes, realizing that just makes the sensations worse, quickly opening them again, trying not to think about his hands inside her body, her walls small and tight) Nooo......it wasn't like that.  My father was important and I had to realize that..

Arissa: (remembering all the times her father did ruffle her dark hair, looking down at her lovingly)

Jaeger: (nudging his finger deeper, surprised that her hymen is not intact and wondering if she lied about her virtue, or if past beatings and rough treatment might be to blame, brows furrowing from the strange twinge of sympathy that almost makes him stop..... but the moment passes and the fleeting emotion angers him, driving him to lift the crop and pop her ass once)

Arissa: (gasps, clamping her thighs tightly together, her teeth gritting, an explosion of stinging pain on the surface of her hot flesh)

Jaeger: (his hand coaxing her back to the sensations, stroking in and out of her now, bumping against her swollen clit with each stroke)

Arissa: (unable to contain a whimper, the sensations flooding back through her, hips squirming)

Arissa: (wishing he would stop, would rather take a hundred lashings than suffer through these strange sensations coursing through her, willing her body not to react, her flesh feeling as if its on fire)

Jaeger: (lifts the crop, swatting her ass again, continuing to stroke her, his nostrils flaring as desire fills his loins, his cock erect and throbbing)

Arissa: (her muscles tensing against the blow, burying her face into the blanket, her knuckles white from clutching it, her walls clenching tightly around his finger as they become slicker with her juices)

Jaeger: (lifts her leg over him as he rolls her onto her back, dropping to his knees beside the bed and jerking her to the edge, his cock pressing against her entry as he looks down at her, lowering one hand to her tiny nipple)

Arissa: (her hands unconsciously going to her stomach to cover her scars, eyes wide at the sudden change of position, her body trembling)

Jaeger: (moves her hand aside) Don't hide them..... (pressing the head of his cock inside of her, his fingers tracing the scar)

Arissa: (lips parting in shock as her nipples tighten, arching her back off the bed as he touches her scars, feeling so vulnerable)

Jaeger: (pushes deeper inside of her, studying her small body, the expression on her face)

Arissa: (eyes dilating, trying to force herself to show no emotion and failing miserably as she feels him entering her small passage, stretching her tight walls)

Jaeger: (moving his hand from the scars down her stomach to her clit and pressing again, rocking his hips as he claims her, his stokes fighting against the clench of her walls, his movements not rough or angry.... but calm.. very deliberate)

Arissa: (in shock, having known somewhat what happened between men and woman, but never having imagined the strange sensations coursing through her body, bracing herself for the pain that is supposed to come, brow furrowing slightly as he fills her completely....the fullness uncomfortable at first...but not the pain she had been lead to believe..)

Jaeger: (drawing almost all the way out and sliding back in, his eyes half lidded, never leaving her face as he starts to move his hips faster, his breath a little faster as his desire builds, a strange calm taken over his sadistic needs)

Arissa: (turning her head to the side, not wanting him to see her face, how he is affecting her, her hips arching higher and higher off the bed as the sensations seem to build inside her, scaring her by their intensity, unable to contain a small gasp...and then a whimper...as her entire body goes taut)

Jaeger: (arching his back and thrusting hard inside of her, grinding, his lips parting as he watches her struggle with her own feelings)

Arissa: (her back arching, covering her face with her hands as her small body shudders violently with unwilling pleasure, wave after wave of sensation coursing through her throbbing flesh)

Jaeger: (finally his eyes close, chin shooting upward as he feels the pull in his loins, heat spreading, his body trembles once and then he releases, the heat filling her)

Arissa: (her face flooding with heat as she feels his seed spill inside her, her walls still pulsating around his cock)

Jaeger: (his hips stilling after a moment, and his eyes opening, slowly looking down at her)

Jaeger: (his voice deep) Challenge met.

Arissa: (her head turned to the side, looking away from him, her body still trembling, shaking her head no, wanting to deny his words)

Jaeger: (pulls out of her and rises, his member still firm, though not standing as erect now)

Jaeger: You will sleep here. We are far from done........ But I suppose I must feed you... (turns away from her, lifting a robe and slipping it on as he moves toward the chamber door)

Arissa: (eyes widening, thinking she heard him wrong) ((surely he's done...he's done..there can't be any more of this)) 

Arissa: (slides back further on the bed, trying to rebuild her defenses, vowing not to let him get to her again)  ((it was new...you didn't know what to expect....you will know next time))

Jaeger: (leaves the room)

Arissa: (wishing for some clothes of her own, staying on the bed for a stunned moment before forcing herself up)

------- there is a window with shutters that open in, it is closed, outside she can hear music ----

Arissa: (moving over to the window, unlatching the shudders and opening it a small way to peek outside)

--- there are bars on the windows of the second floor room, down below there is a courtyard and beyond the courtyard walls, there are street musicians and a small crowd. It is a scene like she might see even in her own city of Palicide, children running down the street, a marketplace down the street, dogs trotting by, riders passing on horse -----

Arissa: (taking in the scene, feeling homesick as she watches the children laugh and play)

Arissa: ((I need clothes...I need clothes and I need to escape)) 

-- down in the courtyard, the slave girl looks up at her -----

Arissa: (spies the slave girl glancing up at her, takes a small step back from the window, uncertain what to make of her)

--- the slave girl looks suddenly at the door into the courtyard as she's called, and runs to the house -----

Arissa: (opens the shutter a little farther, reaching out and wrapping her hands around the bars, giving it a brief tug, wondering how sturdy they are)

--- several moments later, the bedroom door opens ----

Arissa: (turns, looking towards the door)

---- the slave girl walks in, carefully carrying a tray with fresh fruit and bread on it. Also a small carafe of wine ----

Arissa: (her hands automatically sliding over her belly, trying to hide her scar, watching the slave girl as she moves into the room)

Arissa: (wondering how long til he is no longer amused by tormenting her and she ends up having to serve his food)  (gritting her teeth)

---- she sets the tray of food the table where the whip was, she is young and slender, barely 13. A jagged scar runs from under her right eye down her cheek, white contrast to her dark skin. Her dark brown eyes are lined in kohl, her lips painted red. A gold bracelet winds around her upper arm and ends with the head of a gold snake on it, she wears gold hoop earrings ----

--- she wears a colorful sarong around her slender form and walks with small, almost shuffling steps ---

Arissa: (taking in her appearance, never having seen anyone dress or look like her before, her eyes trained on her scar for a moment) ((at least I can cover mine..))   I am Arissa.

E'nasha: (she bows her head) I am E'nasha of the Suhabi Tribe

Arissa: (her brow furrowing slightly) Why do you paint your face? Only warriors from days past paint their face from where I come from...  (not recognizing the tribe she speaks of)

E'nasha: The Suhabi paint our faces to express joy, or sorrow, love.. or hate.. revenge....

Arissa: (cocking her head to the side, studying her intently, slightly fascinated by her appearance) What are you expressing?  (moving slowly over to the tray, grabbing a piece of bread, one arm still folded across her torso)

E'nasha: (lifts her shoulders then lets them drop, touching one finger to the side of her eye where a small black line extends down from the corner like a teardrop) Shame.

Arissa: What have you to be ashamed of? (curious, taking a tentative bite of the bread, not having realized til that moment how hungry she had been)

Arissa: (wondering if she would look older if she painted her face, but quickly pushes that thought away, disgusted with herself)

E'nasha: (keeps her head bowed slightly, but her brown eyes are upturned looking at Arissa) I pay my father's debt to Master Jaeger. My father betrayed Allendor and the price was to be my sister. She is very beautiful.....

E'nasha: But my father sent me in her place, so that her virtue and honor would remain intact.

Arissa: (frowns, finding that very disturbing, yet ironic....seeing that Jaeger ended up with her in his possession instead of the beautiful, golden Imari) How did Jaeger react to you being sent instead of your sister? Or is he not aware that you were not the intended?

E'nasha: He is aware. (nods, her earrings jangling)

E'nasha: He doesn't seem to care.

Arissa: (feeling sad that a father places more value on one daughter over another over perceived beauty) Tis your father that should be painting his face in shame...not you.

E'nasha: My father's shame will meet him in the afterworld.

Arissa: How long must you stay here?

E'nasha: The rest of my life.

Arissa: (winces) I am sorry.

E'nasha: (small smile) Eat. I will bring you a robe. (rises)

Arissa: (smiles genuinely) Truly? Thank you.

Arissa: (plucks a piece of fruit off of the tray, popping it into her mouth)

E'nasha: Truly. Just please do not escape. (shakes her head) You will only be caught. And we will all be punished.

Arissa: (lowers her eyes, unable to make her any promises, making her sick to think they will be punished for her deeds)

E'nasha: (peers back at her from the door before slipping out) (then whispers) His mother hit him too.

-- the door thuds shut behind her --

Arissa: (blinks)