For two days Cleopoda sat by Zenas' head. Although his injuries were healed he slept deeply as a result of the herbs Birian had given to her to administer to him. The one Junae called Keiran came in almost every hour to check on Zenas' progress and every time he did he muttered about the losses he made with each passing hour. Cleopoda was angry at his lack of care but even as she thought about it she realized she too was guilty of something. Keiran, the priests, and whoever else used Zenas for their own pleasure in her own way she wished he would die so he would be freed of his miserable life but with that thought came the knowledge that if he died she would be returned to her own cell where she would be dragged day after day to for ritual purifications that caused her to bleed. Every time
