He chuckled and raised his good hand, showing immense amount of physical tolerance for pain. "This was among the least of my beatings," he said, smiling. "Last time I was lucky that I survived... The only thing that kept me going was my mistress... She wouldn't let me die... I'm not sure as to why that was but she refused to do so... Either way it doesn't matter now... All that matters is that I am alive and recovering."<br/><br/>He gently lowered his arm and smiled through the pain. "Granted it still hurts but I've grown used to it," he said. "This kind of a beating is a normal look for me. If I may ask it of you, why do you not like being called 'mistress' and would you mind if I called you 'Miss Kate', instead? I fear I shall not be able to call you by your name alone as that goes against everything I have been taught." He could feel the tickle of her mind pondering the reason for his being so literate but he forced himself not to say anything.<br/><br/>The truth was, even though he had known nothing other than slavery, his mind was far more advanced than the run-of-the-mill slaves. The main reason was because he had a natural affinity to magic, though he'd locked it away deep inside himself. He had forced his magic into the depths of his heart in order to prevent his mistress from knowing he could escape, if he truly wished. He didn't leave, though. He stayed where he was due to the thrill of fighting.