<strong>"Stand up.  Turn around.  Hands behind your back."</strong><br/><br/>Mellisande sits up.<br/><br/><strong>"I am very, <em>very</em> disappointed in you.  First you lie, then you lie again in claiming to have deceived me.  Did you think perhaps I would spare you out of respect for someone else's royal family?  Or were you attempting to bribe your way free of me?  We cannot have <em>that</em>!"</strong><br/><br/>Gripping Faridah's hair and pulling her head sharply back, the sorceress hisses angrily in her ear.<br/><br/><strong>"I will permit you to suggest your own punishment.  If it is not excruciating enough, rest assured I shall substitute one of my own!"</strong><br/><br/>