Their irritation at the situation was funny and they were awfully far away. As I cleaned the counters in the main room, I continued to harass Master Evan.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    “You’re lucky to be on a controlled by women,” I told him. “Women are smarter than men and much better at running things.”


    I felt his anger course through the bond andughed out loud. It would be disrespectful to the men running the sorting room to leave in the middle of the work day, so Master Evan was stuck. Despite his desire to punish me he would wait.


    Master Damien’s thoughts were suddenly forefront in my mind. The men from the red mountains had told him how to punish a human ve. He was eager to try out their methods on me.


    Unlike the men from the blue mountains, they had learned how to discipline a ve without leavingsting scars. The whip was excessive. Smaller, less harsh items could be used for day to day training. Human skin was not as frail as the men believed it to be.


    In his mind’s eye he thought about a thin flexible strap. It wouldn’t permanently mar my skin, it wouldn’t leave bruises, and it hurt like hell. He was calcting how many switches I could take before I apologized to Master Evan.


    “You can whip my ass raw and I’ll still hold the same opinion,” Iughed out loud.


    “You won’t hold any opinion when we are done with you,” Master Damien said going over all the new ways he had to punish me.


    Master Kein’s thoughts on the matter were suddenly forefront. Men from the red mountain also tied their ves. The ves could be bound and teased for hours. Friendly cousins in the mountains had taught my owners how to do it. It had sounded like such fun to Master Kein. Now it sounded fun to all of them.


    Once they had me bound in a position, they could do as they liked. No one would have to hold me down and make me behave. They could just rx and do as they wished.


    “I apologize, Master Evan,” I said honestly. “I’m very sorry for goading you.”


    “Not yet, you’re not,” he growled threateningly into my mind.


    My men stopped paying attention to me as a new load was delivered to the sorting room. I concentrated on cleaning. asionally I would exin to my men how sorry I was or remind them how brilliant they were.


    Even Christof was ignoring me now. His Brothers were too excited by my punishment. My friend couldn’t deny their joined longing.


    “You will be safe with us,” Christof soothed and I knew he was right, no matter what they chose to do.


    Their excitement over punishing me was as infectious as their other thoughts. I found myself looking forward to my punishment with a weird sense of glee. It was definitely not a thought that had originated in my head.


    I had the apartment spotless in fairly short order. I felt sleepy with all the hard work and looked longingly at the bed. Since it wouldn’t get me in trouble, my men agreed with my n.


    I dreamed of the sorting room. It was heavybor and you had to be very detail oriented to be good. Damien and his Brothers knew what to look for, what made the ore more valuable. Through their waking thoughts I learned all about it.


    ttering talons woke me up quite suddenly. My heart thundered in my chest and I sat upright on the bed.


    “Human ve,” the voice growled out, e out here.”


    I recognized Nu-reeh’s voice and smoothed my hair as I ran out of the apartment. She seemed irritated to see me and looked me up and down.


    “Damien and his Brothers provide you with warm clothes because you are not suited to this cold. Why aren’t you wearing them?” she asked.


    I was stunned. It wasn’t clear to my why she was taking a personal interest in my well being.


    “I was cleaning and hot, Mistress,” I managed to stutter out.


    “Dress now,” she growled.


    I bolted back into the apartment and threw my clothes and foot covers on. My Masters were unsure why she was there. Everyone wanted me to do exactly as she said.


    My feet carried me back outside and she was waiting.


    “Follow me,” shemanded.


    We walked through the caves toward arge exit. It was much like the one Master Kein had nearly fallen from. She picked me up and she jumped.


    I screamed as we fell, but her wings opened and we soared up.


    “You humans make the worst sounds of any creature we allow the men to y with,” shemented. “Now pay attention.”


    We flew into the mountains. She pointed out caves and crevices hidden in the rocks. Nu-reeh exined which ones would be good to rest in and which ones would not be. Certain creatures would eat me if I slept in the lower caves. The higher caves were safer but good ces were contested.


    Nu-reeh swooped into a cave she could fit into and caught a thing that resembled a huge spider, she called it a Scar. I was revolted by the appearance, but stood stoically as she talked about it. Nu-reeh exined how it would sting and paralyze me. It had razor sharp pincers it would use to take me apart and store forter.


    Nu-reeh killed it and one other like it that had been hiding. She then showed me where all the dangerous parts of this creature were.


    “You can kill one like I just did with your ws,” she said. “If you don’t have ws arge stick will suffice, the men kill them with their swords. You must anticipate where the creature will jump. If you can destroy the eyes on the front, you will easily kill it after that.”


    Nu-reeh demonstrated with arge stick how to jab out the eyes.


    “They often attack in packs of two or three,” she continued to exin. “You never want to turn your back on one.”


    Once she was done we were off again.