Ephedrina struggles against the cruel iron and wood contraption.

It's rigid and merciless... but a little too big. She manages to slip one of her lithe wrists out, then another...

She's free!

Pausing only to put on somme footwear she runs as fast as she can... to safety... to Gascayn.

"They beat you again?" Gascayn is incredulous, amused. "Did you get fucked?"

Ephedrina nods. He laughs.

"And so you've come back to old Gascayn again. You need me, don't you?" He looks at her face expectantly...

"I need you, Gascayn."

"What are you without me?"

"..."

"Well...?"

"... not much."

"That's right! Not much!" He laugh uproariously. "Now, I suppose you want my help to kill those bandits."

Her voice is barely audible. "Please help me Gascayn."

They kill the bandits. It's easy. Their leader - the man who raped her twice and sold her as a slave - bleeds to death on the grass less than a minute after the fight starts. Ephedrina spits on his face as the light in his eyes go out.

"Fuck you," she whispers.

"You owe me a lot of money, Ephy... why don't you let me take the beautiful clothing off your hand," he says good naturedly. "I know you're not that high maintenance, right?"

He laughs at her face expression. "Think of it as another deal. I'll give it back to you when you have the money... I'm doing you a favour, really."

He isn't, of course. He's humiliating her and controlling her, but Ephedrina knows it's best to humour Gascayn. That's the point. They both know. The moment of vengeance is turned... not quite to ashes, but there's a bitter note to it. Gascayn's taste in her mouth, so to speak.

At least she has her sword and fan back. And most of her money... which she promptly hands over to Gascayn in return for letting her out of several of his degrading "deals".