<strong>"Who is going to brand her?",</strong>the executioner asked.<br/><strong>"I shall do that",</strong>the batyr answered, holding Ashley without a hint of qualms at her incomprehensible sounds. What did they matter? Those were only the pleadings of a slave. Unauthorized pleadings, at that.<strong>"It would do her some good to feel that my hand doesn't flinch, even if it hurts her".</strong><br/>The executioner chuckled and motioned towards the brazier, glowing, near  the branding rack. The man stirred the fire thoughtfully, then reached.<br/>In a moment, Ashley was disrobed, the simple clothing she'd received lifted off of her in one piece, and thrown to the floor. Then he pulled her hard, to the rack. Her left thigh was affixed to the rack by means of heavy rope, held by two twist handles.<br/>This way, her thigh couldn't move due to an involuntary flinch. This helped ensure her brand would look nice and clean.<br/>Then the man were pulled her wrists to the two posts, about as far from each other as the width of Ahsley's two palms. Slave bracelets dangled there, and these enveloped her wrists.<br/>The executioner's helpers grabbed the other ends of the ropes, and stretched her arms to the sides. Such actions also help to reduce a slave's mobility, all to ensure the nice, clean brand. But they were waiting.<br/>The batyr checked repeatedly on the brand he had chosen - a picture of a rose's bud, with the first letter of the word "slave" - and then showed it to Ashley.<br/>It was glowing hot.<br/>He removed the gag from her mouth. This is done so the slave wouldn't asphyxiate if she throws up from the pain and shock.<br/>That was the signal the helpers were waiting for - they now pulled her hands with all their manly weight.<br/><strong>"You can scream", </strong>he allowed her. And the brand was pressed in her left thigh, her new owner's hand untrembling.<br/>It only lasted about five or six seconds. Then the brand was removed, as cleanly as it was applied. The batyr handed it to the executioner.<br/><strong>"Thank you."<br/>"My pleasure",</strong>the executioner answered.<strong>"She can now see her master is strong and ruthless."</strong><br/>The batyr smiled. In a man as calm as him that counts as a roar of laughter.<br/><strong>"If she hasn't realized it yet, she'd soon gain other opportunities to learn, anyway", </strong>he said.<br/>And he pulled Ashley forward, dragging her behind him as befitted her new place.