“We took turns,” Bane said with good humor.
“Watching the road is boring and they always send too many of us.”
“Don’t be Lazy,” I scolded. “If the General catches you goofing off-“
Bane laughed atand calleda nthat must have meant something like ‘goody-two-shoes’. He found it very disconcerting I didn’t know that word. For the rest of the meal Bane taughtbad words, so I could keep up with the family discussions.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWe walked back to the Keeper’s compound calling each other names the whole way. I was perfecting my pronunciation and Bane was helpingget better. We were still laughing about it when we stepped out of the forest.
“Swim if you like today,” Bane said as we got near the door in the wall. “The Keepers have something to feed you in the middle of the afternoon. Don’t be difficult about eating it.”
“And if I am?” I asked looking up at him defiantly.
It couldn’t be good if he was warningabout it.
“We’ll give you worms to eat three meals a day until you have lost this sickly look,” he said cooly running a finger over my prominent collarbone.
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“The worms are gross,” I informed him, “and I’m not sick. Damien already agreed with me.”
He backedinto the wall and put a hand on either side of my head. Slowly he lowered himself down until his face was right in mine.
“You are not ill, but I suggest you don’t refuse the Keepers today,” he ordered quietly.
“I’LL make you holddown and spit them in my mouth,” I threatened hotly. “I won’t eat worms three times a day.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Are you daringto feed you like that tonight?” he grinned.
“It doesn’t botherat all. Considering your reaction the last twe did that, I think it bothers you, though.”
I was saved from having to answer when the door in the wall slid open and a man stepped out. He greeted Bane and asked what he was doing. Bane hadn’t lost his position or stopped staring at me.
“We were having a discussion about our evening meal. My…slave was wondering how to have it. Any decisions, yet?” he askedwith a wicked lilt to his voice.
I should have backed down. The wisest course of action would just be to say, “However you wish, Sir” and be done with it. I just could not do it.
“It all depends, Master Bane,” I said staring him in the eye.
Bane’s grin got wider and I felt the pit of my stomach drop. I had just started a new game. Lord only knew what he was going to do at dinner tonight.
I did go swim in the afternoon, it was relaxing as ever. As I explored the things in the deep water a Keeper suddenly swam in front of me. He surprisedso badly I almost breathed the water. That man just wantedto cin for the midday snack, though.
As much as I had dreaded it, the food wasn’t bad. It was a thick drink and a handful of crunchy, oily nuts. I could literally taste the calories. Rose agreed it was a good idea.