“Can you help me?” she asks.“Um ... Er ... Okay ... If I’m able to help,” I say, feeling that as a member of staff I should assist La Chatte... Heureuse members when I can.“Drippy and I had a run-in with Madame Faye. She bet that she could tie up Drippy better than I could her slave. I stupidly accepted the bet even though I’ve never done any rope bondage before.”I’m tempted to say, ‘Well, that wasn’t a very good bet to make, then,’ but I hold my tongue.“What’s the penalty for losing the bet?” I. He will want that bowl simply because it is unique. The spoon too. It looks like it was carved out of rock but it’s finely wrought and light. That will have the priests wondering who has the skill to make it.”I shrugged, “Well the main thing is I got your ring. Here give me your right hand.” She offered me her hand, and I placed the ring on her middle finger. She shuddered and looked at me in amazement.She looked at the ring and blinked several times. “Oh dear, what have you done Mikal,” she. Nevertheless, I had to look.I hitched my horse to the rail in front of the house and walked inside. Naturally, the place was well covered with dust except for the paths through it made by somebody walking from room to room. I checked the kitchen and found no food lying about, though I did find some trash in one corner. Further searching of the house did not tell me any more, except that there was no one living here now.I picked up my horse and headed to the barn. There were signs that a horse. She smiled at me confidently; I looked into her eyes. She thought she hurt me.Laughter echoed deep inside. How could she have come this far and not read the subtle turning?I moved to her, faked the lockup, moved to the right when she went for it and kicked her thigh. It was solid but without power. She had challenged, but if she quit I would have let her go. I needed her confident for a little longer. I needed her to be angry just a step beyond reason with the taste of blood in her.