<div align="center"><em>Autolycus answers the Dominus <br/>Inner Courtyard</em></div><hr/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v200/Prakkie/Medicus.jpg)</div>"This is hardly part of my usual duties," Autolycus said, surprised by the Dominus' decision to place Sorcha in his keeping, for him to train as he saw fit, a task that usually fell to either Galo or Nadia. "But if that's your wish," he was quick - a little too quick - to add, "I'll do my best to make her fit for service in the house. It may take some time..." the last was said with a meaningful look at the woman, now struggling against her bonds, trying to speak through her gag. Not quite resisting the treatment she was getting and yet clearly not ready to give in completely.<br/><br/>How long, he wondered, would he be able to stretch her 'education'? Ah but that was thinking too far ahead. As fascinating as he found her at the moment he might grow bored with her yet... Quite possibly around the time she learned to behave as she should. A meek and obedient slave. All that fire gone. He'd seen it happen.<br/><br/>"I'll have her in your study on the hour," he promised the Dominus after a glance at the sundial that stood in center of the courtyard.<br/><br/>Yes, three-quarters of an hour ought to be enough to do what had to be done.<br/><br/><br/><hr/><div align="center"><em>Autolycus entering the Servant Baths with Sorcha<br/>(fluid time – Galo, Nadia, Amplus and Cariad already left)<br/></em></div><hr/><br/>The servant baths were empty as Autolycus led Sorcha inside, just like he'd hoped they'd be, and as soon as they were through the door he closed it and locked it so there would be no unwanted spectators and of course also to keep the Pict from escaping. He kept a hold of her leash as he walked to a nearby cabinet to get some bathing supplies. A comb and some coarse woolen towels that he deposited next to the bath and a vial of oil and strigil that he kept with him as he led Sorcha to the centre of the floor.<br/><br/>Now came the difficult bit, the part he’d dreaded but that could not be avoided.<br/><br/>He waited, leaving Sorcha in one place until she was quite still. Then, with infinite slowness, he lowered the chain that held her to the floor, the links hitting the flagstones one at a time with soft ping-ing noises that seemed loud in the otherwise quiet space. He watched her the whole time, as if his eyes might hold her in place when the chain did no longer, his body tense, ready to act should she try to fight or flight.<br/><br/>“Stay,” he told her.<em>Please stay</em>.<br/><br/>For if she did not getting her cleaned and groomed would be difficult, if not impossible.