There was only heat - searing, unimaginably painful.<br/><br/>Lhurriel didn't scream at first - she gritted her teeth, biting the leather strap as hard as she could. Every muscle in her body locked as the pain kicked in, and her jaw hurt with how hard she bit the strap. Then she had to gasp and take a breath, as tears rolled down her cheeks, and then she sobbed, though her body lay still beneath his hand.<br/><br/>She was whimpering, almost blind with the pain, when she felt as if she could move again. She grabbed Amron's arm tightly as he assisted her in standing, grateful for the added comfort of the jacket. It still hurt like the devil himself had branded her, though Lhurriel hastily and stubbornly scrubbed her face free of tears, trying to choke back the whimpers of pain. She<em>wanted</em>to fall to the ground and lay there, without moving, because it hurt even to stand... but she was anxious to prove that she belonged, that she wasn't afraid of pain. They might accept her, of course, but later there was always room for doubts, even slight ones.<br/><br/>"M-my thanks," she gasped out weakly, at his congratulations. She couldn't even see straight, and everything was... bright. Abnormally bright. Gods, it still hurt. Every nerve in her body seemed to be on fire. "Is... is there aught other business to take care of, tonight?" Her voice was faint and wavering... Lhurriel's face was still twisted in a grimace of pain, even if she refused to cry anymore. She stood tall, but only Amron could know how tightly her hands were gripping him, her fingers digging into his arms so tightly that later they would leave light bruises.