6
Weakened and left alone in the dark much of the time, Mahdia soon became
desperate for release. She started to access her surroundin's. The dirt
wall was partially soft but soon after a few scrapin's with her hands she
realized it was much too hard for her to consider diggin' out. There was
only the chamber pot and the cot in the small room not much wider than she
was tall. She found that the cot was made of wood and woven willow bark.
That was of no help. But after a further search she found some wire had
been used to wrap the ends of the wavin' to keep it from frayin'. She took
this and tried to fashion somethin' useful from it. It was not strong
enough for a weapon or long enough for a garrote. She hid it away for
future use.
After a couple months of confinement, Gallon came for Mahdia and said
that it would soon be over. As he was openin' the lock she took the small
piece of wire and hid it into her palm.
"I have perfected the ink I need to make you able to once again walk
freely. We will marry and you will be happy."
"Happy," she said, "I will never be happy with you after the way you
have treated me!"
"Oh, but you will, you will, my love," he replied smiling.
Then he cast another spell upon her to hold her in place. The spell
made it so she could not move freely but she was able to watch and
understand all that was done. Gallon first forced a potion on her. He
rubbed her throat to make her swallow the burning fluid. She became numb
all over but still she was sharp of mind. Then he took one of her wrists
and tying it securely onto a workbench, he cleaned it with alcohol and took
some sharp device and started to tattoo her. The needles pricked at her
skin but she didn't feel them. The form of an intricate pattern started to
form as he worked. He would pause and clean away the blood as he did. The
bright blue ink not only colored but seemed to burn into her. With each
addition to the pattern she felt herself becomin' less real. It seemed as
if she was looking at this happenin' to someone else.
"I have worked long on this variant of the goblin slavers mark. It had
to not only allow the owner to know where you were but also to cause
unquestioning loyalty. Once you have it you will not try to leave or get
help while I charm you as before. All will be as it was," he spoke as he
worked. Perhaps he didn't even know what he said.
"You remember how it was before that fool Lordes stopped by and reminded
you. You were happy, you were beginning to love me and to remember you
always loved me, weren't you Belladonna. That can't happen again. Perhaps
I should kill him and that bastard Qelin as well."
At hearin' this, the emotions of Mahdia were so instinctual they went
beyond the control of the holdin' spell. She convulsively tightened and
then released her grip in anger and grief. This alone would have meant
nothin'. But the small wires in her palm fell from her hand and on to the
workbench.
Gallon continued workin' and talkin' about his plans for them. But as he
worked he rested his arm on the bench and with one turn of his forearm he
was pricked by the small wire. Again, it was not that much, but when
dealin' with magic things must be perfect. Gallon didn't even seem to
notice when the small flinch he made altered the pattern of the tattoo
minutely.
Hours went by as the Gallon worked and Mahdia sat their immobile and
entranced. But it finally ended and Gallon left to wash his tools and
hands. The blood soaked rags on the workbench and the smeared blood on
Mahdia's forearms gave the appearance of a surgeons work on the skin of some
blue sea creature. Her vision was a blur of blood and blue haze. Mahdia
was barely aware of her surroundin's any longer and yet the holdin' spell
was endin'. Gallon returned to watch as it finally left Mahdia. He asked
how she felt. When she said nothin' he said to her, "Answer."
"My arm hurts," she heard someone saying. Then she realized it was her
speakin' without willin' it. She was confused. Perhaps she had to obey him.
"Yes, I will see to that presently," he said, " come with me." He
watched as she stood and then walked into another room.
"Sit over here," he said pointing.
Again she felt she must obey and began to act before she realized it and
sat down. But she also knew now, she didn't have to if she didn't want to,
as well. This time she just did as he told as he cleaned and wrapped the
tattoo to let it heal. As he did this she noticed a small leather punch
sitting on the table next to her and while he was payin' attention to the
tattoo she palmed it and hid it in her skirt.
Chapter 7
