I approached Varinia the Thracian again, to have a glance at her eyes, to read the fear, the weakness, the change of heart. But I could not see them, she held her head against the post, as if hiding from my gaze. I moved away to wait for the executioner to complete his chore, he was taking his time and I could not blame him, the day was not even half gone and he had exhausted himself with the whip before, there was a long time still ahead of him.

But I felt, too, that he was enjoying his proximity to his victim, the closeness of her skin.

I turned to see the crowds that were growing as time was passing, many in the audience were young men and I guessed that some of them were her friends. I recognized one of her servants in the crowd and it surprised me, I thought they all would be hiding, especially after learning of what befell the one we took away that night. The young servant was crying, her face was red as if she had been hit, but it was her emotions that had produced large rashes on her body.

There was an older man with her and I could tell he was trying to take her away. He noticed me, I turned away.

>Varinia's servant denied the existence of an army and a general. "What general?", she asked, trembling as she saw the look in my eyes and the way I nodded to the guard.

"I don't know anything about any general!", she cried out. "What are you going to to?", she asked in fear.

The guard took her by the arms and led her away to the steps to the dungeon. I followed them. She resisted at first, but the grip of the guard was strong, but he also threatened her with his sword, so she let him take her down the steps.

As she walked down she turned to see me. There were tears in her eyes, there was surprise and fear in her, she never expected what was happening. She was answering all of my questions, she had no reason to fear. I didn't give her any reason to fear. I felt guilty, but there was something she was hiding and I was going to persuade her.

The executioner was done with freeing Varinia's arms, he reached to the log and lifted it to place it on the woman's shoulders.

Again I moved closer to see her expression, she was still facing the post, not even reacting as the rough and heavy cross touched her skin.

The executioner reached to one hand and raised it over the timber and as he did the garment she wore covered her whipped back again.

The sight of her nakedness was taken away from the crowds, but I'm not sure they were there to see her naked. I began to believe that they were there to be witness to an unjust execution.

I looked back at the crowd, searching for reactions and I saw her servant again, crying still, staying put while the man who was trying to take her away was resigned to stay there. He was looking at me and lowered his head when he saw I was looking at them.

We took Varinia's servant to the dark dungeon below the fortress, my initial intention was to intimidate the woman into revealing her secrets, we showed her the chains and whips and instruments of torture. She was truly afraid and cried for mercy.

"I don't know anything, my lord!", she cried out, falling on her knees and grabbing my robe.

I felt pity for the woman whose hair was touching my feet. I felt my power over her as well but I wanted to be a functionary, not a man.

"You shall avoid any of this if you just tell me if you know anything about Rhescuporis, of the Sapaei. Is he your lady's general?".

"I don't know him, I don't know that man!", she cried out, and I believed she was lying.

"Liar!", I screamed and gave the guard an order.

Varinia's arms were placed over the log, her garment covered her torso again, including her breasts, which I had occasion to see moving under the dirty and bloody rag that was still attached to her body.

She remained silent, her head behind the post, her eyes closed, willing to continue going through her suffering without revealing names or plans.

I whispered the name I wanted to hear from her lips Rhescuporis, where is he now? What is he planning?

Who else is behind your plot?

There was only silence attached to her lips, indifference inside her eyelids, stubbornness in her head.

I was sorry for the woman, but she was giving me no choice but to continue.