Branded a Liar

The sky was very blue, the clouds were white. 'Please, no!' I wept. I saw Rask, with a heave glove, draw forth one of the irons from the fire. It terminated in a tiny letter, not more than a quarter of an inch high. The letter was white hot. 'This is a penalty brand,' he said. 'It marks you as a liar. ''Please, Master!' I wept. 'I no longer have patience with you,' he said. 'Be marked as what you are.

Captive of Gor, page 310

What was I thinking?! Did I think that he did not know me well enough to know that I was lying to him?! I am lucky to be alive, he could have killed me. After all, am I his property to do with as he wishes?

I could feel the anger seething off of him like a vehement vapor as he shoved the branding iron into the brazier. I know my Master well enough to know that he was not trying to scare me, he meant to brand me. The torture he inflicted upon me was not the usual kind meant for pleasure. No, this time he wanted to hear me scream in pain, and I did.

After I realized what I had done, while not shacked, but nailed to the table, I wanted to take it all back. I wanted to draw in all those lies and swallow them like the bitter poison they were. I told him I was sorry. I begged him not to brand me, yet my pleas fell on deaf ears.

"Liar!!" Was all he said to me when he pressed the white hot iron against my flesh, searing it.

I have not felt that degree of pain, nor inhaled that scent since I was branding at the slaving house in Ar. There is something to be said about the scent of your on flesh being burned. I am sure my screams could be heard all the way down the hill to the docks. Although physically painful, the agony I felt at having dishonored my Master was one thousand times worse.

I cried out for him through the night, but he did not come to me. I was left alone with my pain, my moans, my tears, and my disgrace. Nailed to the table, screws to my thumbs, desolation in my heart. I wanted to be forgiven.

I do not know if he will ever trust me again.

I do know that I will always wear the brand of a liar for all the world to see.

It is a brand I have earned.