of the tray. “It is my first attempt that I think is actually worthwhile.”
She lifted the little individual pizza, put it into her mouth and took a bite. She sat on the bed and chewed slowly. A tear trickled down her nose.
“That bad is it?” Donle said, chagrined.
“On the contrary, Master Donle. It is excellent.”
“It is quite simple but I think the dough is right. Olive oil and garlic and some vegetables. Tomatoes and cheese are a little difficult to find.”
“It is perfection. Thank you.”
Donle beamed.
Myryath looked at the last stone in the corner not paying attention to the lesson. She knew she would be the last. She had no plan on how to make Kari give her the stone. In despair, she’d even offered her resignation to Commander Syll. The teacher had waved it away saying the assignment had no time limit.
“You are the youngest aren’t you?” Kari said, bringing her back.
“That is irrelevant,” Myryath said trying to remember what she was supposed to be doing. Fatigue was taking its toll on them.
“You are also the best. Mistress Syll’s most prized of pupils.”
“You seek to flatter me. It won’t work.”
“It won’t work because it is truth not flattery. You are the most insightful, the most dedicated, the most persistent.”
Myryath shook her head. “It has not allowed me to get a stone.”
“You are afraid of failure. I know that feeling unfortunately too well. I don’t know how but you can do this. I could give just give it to you.”
“That would be a terrible failure. Out of pity. How empty a victory that would be.”
She shrugged. “Results.”
Myryath stared at Kari. “As you say.”
A week later, Myryath called Commander Syll and the other students into the cell. Kari stood as well though as puzzled as the others.
“Kari, hand me my stone,” said Myryath.
Kari looked at Syll. The Romulan’s face was unreadable. Kari looked at the stone then at Myryath. The young Romulan knew that Kari would refuse.
“I am sorry, Mistress Myryath, but I must decline.”
Myryath nodded. She pulled off her veil uncovering her head. Kari glanced at Syll to see if she knew what the young Romulan was up to. But her attitude was that she too was very curious. The other students were riveted, especially Donle.
Myryath’s hands trembled as she started to disrobe. She didn’t look at the other students, as she pulled the last article of clothing off. Then carefully she knelt and held out her hand.
“Mistress, please would...”
“NO!” Kari screamed. She leaped at the Romulan and dragged her to her feet. She slammed her against the wall, then grabbed the robe and shoved it into her hands trying to get her to dress herself. She dashed to the corner, snatched up the stone, and ran back to thrust it into the Romulan’s hand. “Do not do that to me! Never do that to me! Never!”
Myryath smiled at her, covering herself with the robe. “As you wish, Kari.”
Then she held the stone up. “Commander Syll, I have the stone.”
“Well done, Myryath, very well done.” Syll said. The others clapped. Donle ogled without shame.
“Results, Kari,” Myryath said looking at the quivering Human.
Kari shook her head starting to laugh letting the rage bleed away from her.
“We have all seen each other naked, students,” Syll said. “Let us hope we can learn.”
“They have not seen us naked.”
“Welan!” Jhynif said, shaking her head in disbelief. “You are an embarrassment to the Tal Shiar.”
Too soon, the Beloved Nephew came home to his palace. And the nightmare began again. Always, when he returned from some absence, he indulged in greater brutality. Kari’s information flowed once more but the cost was overwhelming her. The doctor even assigned a special medical ward ready for when Kari arrived from being in the Beloved Nephew’s care. He said he could repair her body for the most part. Even strengthen it. The abuse though bludgeoned her mind. That was obvious.
When Syll informed the Seigneur in their occult garden communications that Kari’s struggles were intensifying even as the information increased in importance, he had suggested an idea. The proposal had surprised the Romulan Commander. She had objected as strenuously as she could noting how dangerous what he was proposing would be. He gently reminded her that he too knew a thing or two about these Human creatures. She had no choice and had to relent.
The students entered Kari’s cell carrying a few things. She was curled up in bed.
“So soon,” she whispered.
“No, Kari,” Welan said. “Not today.”
“Today,” said Jhynif. “Today we have a little surprise for you. It is not much and it is very dangerous. Please stand so we may dress you.”
Kari levered herself up off the bed and stood. She examined them with amusement. “You’re wearing very fancy new robes, masters and mistresses.”
They were still dressed in black but gold threads shone subtly along the edges. The material was finer and less heavy almost like silk. The veils themselves also had more gold and were more opaque.
“You are going to be dressed as we are as well.”
Kari just raised her eyebrows. Her face was gaunt. The fierce light in her eyes still burned. However, the students did not need experience to see her diminution. They talked amongst themselves about their concern that an important source of information was threatened. Syll could feel their real worry though.
They pulled dark pants onto her legs. “You know, I can dress myself.”
“We are going to add some accessories. Do not be concerned.”
They attached some thick leather cuffs to her thighs just above her knees, then attached a short length of chain between them.
“Are you learning a thing or two from the Beloved Nephew?” she inquired.
“The only thing we...” Myryath snarled, then caught herself. She rubbed her eyes. The long hours of poring over Kari’s intelligence was highly rewarding but the cost seemed to be sleep and their health.
Kari smiled at her and touched her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Mistress. I mean no disrespect. I hope the things you learn from our Beloved Nephew will bring him only that which is deserved.”
“As you say,” Myryath said, mastering herself. “Please walk.”
Kari shuffled along.
“A little more chain,” Welan said, adjusting it. “Try again. Yes. Good. You will not be able to make a dash for any exits.”
Kari nodded still unsure of the students’ purpose. Donle helped her off with her tunic and she donned a simple black shirt. They then strapped a metal breastplate and backplate to her.
“It is heavy,” Donle said. “It will make movement even more difficult.”
“You have succeeded.” It must have been about fifteen kilos. It flattened her small breasts and filled out her back and front.
“You will not be standing much but it will allow sitting comfortably we hope. Raise your chin a little. Can you hold your hair up?”
She lifted her hair.
“This collar will prevent you from turning your head.” The posture collar fit snugly under her chin and around her neck. They locked it on.
“Can you turn your head?”
She tried. “No.” Her mouth could hardly open.
“This is a gag that will prevent all sound though you will be able to breathe through this hole here and take a little liquid as well.”
“What are you people doing?” she asked.
She opened her mouth a little to let them slip in a small mouth piece. The gag covered most of the lower half of the her face. They connected it to the collar and locked it to the back. She screamed as hard as she could knowing they wanted to test it. Between the breastplate, the collar, and the gag, nothing could be heard except for a faint hum.
“How are things progressing?” asked Syll walking in. She to
o was dressed in newer more elegant robes.
“Your date is almost ready, Commander,” said Donle.
The other students laughed.
“This is not a date!” Syll snapped.
The students quieted their laughter just a little.
“You find amusement in this, do you? The Seigneur has lost his mind to allow this. Kari, have they told you what is happening?”
She stood there trying to decide how to answer that. She couldn’t even shrug.
“My apologies. Tap your right foot for yes and left foot for no.”
She tapped her left foot.
“Attach the ears.”
Kari drew her brows together as the students attached Romulan ears. Then she realized these prosthetics entered her ear canals.
Syll covered her mouth. By the student’s reaction, the Romulan Commander was asking a question. But she couldn’t hear and without seeing her lips, could not read them.
The Commander touched a control on her pad.
“Tap your foot if you can hear me now.”
She tapped her foot and let her smile reach her eyes.
“Her hair.”
They pushed her hair into a cap and fitted a wig to her. Then applied a little makeup. They wrapped a scarf around the lower half of her face and her neck. Then crossing them in front of her chest, they strapped her arms and hands to the breast plate. A tunic then a robe like theirs covered all.
“These glasses,” Syll said putting what looked like goggles on Kari’s face. “They will blank out when we do not want you to see something.”
She demonstrated then allowed Kari to see through the goggles.
“The veil now and by the Stars of Wisdom do not allow that to slip. Her forehead is deformed. I do not know how much our cover story will hold for that.”
Kari frowned again.
“Yes,