When a truth of the world was spoken between<em>Kargat </em>in hushed company, it brought the joy of life long forgotten to the eyes of a woman like Lady Kazandra, like a flicker of firelight to primeval tomb.<br/><br/>"Pain is the most qualified teacher."<br/><br/>Though it was not in Lady Kazandra's interest to know the intimacies of life and gull-picked open grave on Dominia, something in her dark heart spoke the same sadistic language as Vine-Lott and Heinfroth. Pain inscribed on flesh and muscle while reason and intent washed away with the bleak tide.<br/><br/><em>Captain </em>Vine-Lott.<br/><br/>Two days' sail into the Sea of Sorrows there was ever a fog which turned back unworthy vessels and littered the sea bottom with<em>Charlottes. </em>A canny captain took careful to that blind voyage, companied by dark prayers under the creaking of warped wood and hemp. A canny captain paid respects to the inscrutable powers which be, and lived to return home and eke out another season on the sea's jealous blessing. But for one who knew the sea's black soul, to one who heard its whispers and plucked opportunity from vile temptation, the voyage became a joyous flight. On providence from a dark mistress Danae could find swift heading.<br/><br/>The names of Danae's prisoners were never important to the hierarchy to the ship. One bore a name like Nari, or something in some mnemonic way related. Short of idle curiosity, there was no cause to utter or recall them. Not unlike a despot husband Nari and her sisters fawned to Danae, and the flavor of submission was stoic acquiescence. Lash or heel or knife, all cruel impulses were taken as the pack mule takes a burden. A suffering was surely synonymous with identity, and Danae built much character.<br/><br/>"I believe in God," one sister lamented when Danae had occasion to invigorate old lashes with the whip. And when this did not bring mercy, her very concept metamorphosed like woman to animal in the moonlight. "You are my God! You!"<br/><br/>In the eyes there were personhoods of private thoughts and plans, but plush and welted lips mouthed<em>yes, mistress </em>and drank in the tensions of Danae's body with roving remora kisses nescient to concepts of personal space or personal intimacy. Any captain's pleasure one sister discovered, her sisters were so expeditious in adopting they seemed to be of one mind and intention. But the eyes betrayed that they did not think of themselves as broken, not in any way that would be missed. Not yet.<br/><br/>Rain and mud persisted on landing at Dominia. The supply wagon struggled up steep bluffs, kept solely by wheels mired in depth of slick ground. It was the wolves, ever present and spying, which marked this pilgrimage as blessed instead of hopeless. Nari and her sisters had not the faith to conceive of that blessing, and huddled fearful to the very gates of the asylum and prospect of civilization- evil, rapacious, enervating civilization.<br/><br/>By muddied trudge through the asylum's cellar the old pipes creaked and whined with gelatinous form of Doctor Heinfroth. In time and presentable cleanliness, the red doctor greeted her new guests and celebrated Captain Vine-Lott's return with a meatless feast of the most delectable sweet breads, indulgent cheeses and panoply of crisp young garden greens. In her rose whorl polonaise, Doctor Heinfroth's smile was sweet relief.<br/><br/>"How we've missed you, Captain."<br/><br/>Jut courtly arms drew Danae close, closer still, until in a space conspicuously absent of breath Heinfroth crushed Captain Vine-Lott's muscle to her outrageous bosom.<br/><br/>She was starved, and must feed.<br/><br/>That was evident in Heinfroth's full-mouthed kiss, the noises of desperation which escaped her throat drinking in every nuance from Danae's lips. In her hunger she sought to make Danae forget, to drink up her thoughts and psyche into an evaporated crimson cloud. But a tolerance was built, once a crazed honeymoon gave way to symbiosis and dependence. It was Danae's decision what to surrender, and never for long. Nita and her sisters would not be so lucky.<br/><br/>"We have the means to bereave these ladies of their troubling fixations this very night. I trust you remember the way to the treatment rooms, Captain. We must make haste if this endeavor is to prove worthwhile. Rest assured, I shall join you shortly, once I've assumed something more comfortable."