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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Orichalcum" data-source="post: 5382881" data-attributes="member: 3722">A Fate Worse Than InjuryThe Northern barbarian Carwyn introduced young Rian to her other Northern friends, especially Ontaya and Meeshak. In such a large group, it was difficult for Rian to work her magic, and both the tall blonde warrior and the saturnine, cynical Meeshak seemed immune to her charm in any case, if friendly enough. Carwyn, on the other hand, was very receptive, especially when Rian proved a ready audience to listen to her worries about her lost lover Lune. Though Rian grew increasingly nervous trying to hide her repeated invocations of the charm spell in the midst of the crowded slave quarters, she was reasonably certain that Carwyn viewed her as a trusted friend and companion. Some of the liking might even be genuine - they were both strangers here, after all.On the first full day, the Slavemistress Shushila summoned Carwyn, Rian, and a few of the other most graceful young slaves for another lesson in dancing. She started a drumbeat and asked Rian to follow along with the other more experienced girls, watching her closely. The young Szianar excelled in the group dances and pair dances, which were similar to those danced in the moon festivals back home in her village. When Carwyn attempted to show her the steps of the che'saan, the Dance That Drives Men Wild, however, Rian's natural modesty and embarassment caused her to trip and stumble. Shushila clucked in reproof. "You must work harder on that one, Rian. I know you can't all be as naturally talented as Carwyn, but you will never please the young nobles by merely traipsing out the steps of a country dance."Carwyn blanched a little at Shushila's remark, and Rian noticed her friend's pause in the rhythms of the mirror dance they were practicing. When the dance was over and Shushila dismissed them to the baths, Rian fell back by Carwyn's side. "What's wrong with pleasing the young nobles?" she whispered.Carwyn turned bitterly to her. "If they like your dancing, they ask for a 'private performance.'" Her tone left no doubt as to her meaning.Rian paled in shock. "I...I can't! I won't!"Carwyn's eyes held little hope in them. "We're slaves. Would you rather be flogged to death?"Rian's mind worked quickly. "You said if they like your dancing. What if I danced badly?"Carwyn considered and then dismissed the idea. "Then Shushila would beat you; she knows you're capable of very good dancing after today, even if your hips aren't really up to the full sway and swish."Rian paused and offered another idea, "What if I couldn't dance? What if I was injured somehow? Then it wouldn't be my fault!"Carwyn replied, "Well, yes, but you aren't. And I don't think we could disguise that easily; she'd be sure to check, and our dancing robes don't conceal much."Rian bit her lip and summoned her resolve. "Then I'll have to actually be injured. You said your friend Meeshak was good with healing. Can he sprain my ankle?"Carwyn looked at her, horror mixed with admiration. "For real, you mean?""It's better than being the plaything of some obese nobleman," Rian replied, attempting a firm tone to hide her fear and panic that any contact with nobles would also reveal her secret."Well....we can ask him," Carwyn finally answered reluctantly.At mealtime, the two women drew Meeshak aside and explained the situation. He grimaced as he considered Rian's idea. "It's very risky. I can't guarantee that I would just sprain it. I might even break it.""But you've done something like this before?" Rian asked."Well, I've injured ankles, yes...but not of friends! Ankles are very complex parts of the body. I could do a wrist pretty easily." Meeshak offered."Wrist won't help. I'd still be able to dance with a sprained wrist. Look, just do it. I trust you. You seem skilled." Rian said, placing her foot on the bench next to the Northern priest."All right...but you've been warned." Meeshak summoned up all his long-ago lessons in anatomy and gripped Rian's foot with one hand and her calf with the other. Slowly, carefully, he twisted in opposite directions, until the girl grimaced in silent pain, biting her lip to stay silent. When he released her foot, the ankle started swelling almost immediately. She tried standing on it and fell down, wincing."Thank you, Meeshak," Rian said, through her tears of pain. "I owe you a debt. Now let's go see Shushila and explain how I fell down the stairs."</blockquote>

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