Teaching Rana the four Rules of life
Teaching Rana the four Rules of life
Chapter 9 - Part 2 (Voyage of the Dawn Breaker)
Previously, while Flur, Rana, and Kiesha were out gathering breakfast, Rhyslin and Ria were enjoying some quiet time together. Upon the return of the three with breakfast, Rhyslin had Flur serve them breakfast.
He waited until they had finished, then calmly watched Rana turn to Ria. “Mathair,” He noted the sudden tension in Ria's shoulders, which partially faded as Rana continued, “I'm sorry that I acted like a spoiled child. I don't know why I … eep!” She yelped as her right hand flew down to rub her left buttock.
Who spanked me? Rana wondered as she looked around, trying to figure out who had struck her. Ria and Flur were just as surprised as she was, and Rana looked at Keisha, who was staring at Rhyslin.
She turned her hazel eyes to his to find him nodding at her. He pointed to a spot to his right. “Come here, Rana.” She blinked and continued rubbing her buttock as she slowly moved to him.
“Yes, maighstir?” For some reason, she found that she couldn't meet his gaze.
“There are four basic rules in my house. They are, in order of importance: Do not lie, because not telling the truth could get someone killed.” He looked around the table and watched as Ria and Flur nodded in agreement. He held up two fingers. “Do not steal because taking someone else's property can get you killed or enslaved.” He raised a third finger. “Do not kill unless it is in self-defense or defense of others. Murder will bring about the death penalty, and if Mathair deems it so, you will lose your rebirth.” He paused, lifting the last finger. “Lastly, do not break your oaths, promises, or contracts. Lady Ananke will punish oath breakers, and oath breakers, like thieves, murderers, and liars, cannot be trusted.” He took a slow breath. “If I can't trust someone, I will have that person removed from my house.”
The silence in the house was deafening momentarily as the women around the table meditated on his words. Each woman glanced over at Rhyslin and found him watching Rana, who was staring at the floor and biting her lower lip.
Finally, she looked up and found Rhyslin watching her. She met his gaze as she quietly stood there. Is he mad at me? She wondered as she opened herself up to his prana. No, he's not mad. It's more like he is disappointed.
The thought that he might be disappointed in her almost sent Rana to her knees.
Rhyslin saw the quiver on Rana's lower lip and kept his voice calm as he spoke to her. “Which rule were you about to break?” Ria mumbled her answer, drawing another of those invisible swats. Instead of her left buttock being hit again, it was to her right side. “Would you care to repeat that so I can hear you?” Rhyslin inquired as he leaned toward the young woman and flicked his right forefinger toward her.
Ria watched as her daughter flinched and called, “Your first rule, Maighstir. I was about to break your first rule.”
The draoidh nodded at her admission. “What lie were you about to tell?”
Rana threw him a look that begged him not to make her tell. He called her bluff by flexing his finger. Come on, little one, show your integrity and confess.
Rana flinched. He's not going to bend at all. He won't let me lie. She felt tears in the corner of her eyes and tried to blink them away. “I was going to tell Mathair that I didn't know why I did it.”
“Ahh,” he vocalized as he relaxed his expression. “But you know why you did it, don't you?”
She nodded and sampled his prana again. What she found surprised her. He does care about me. That revelation broke her will, and she sniffled as she knuckled away her tears. “I was jealous.” When he gestured for her to continue, she did, “I've seen you in my dreams every night for the last eight years, ever since they told me about the prophecy.” Rana tried to blink away the new tears in her eyes. “When Mathair gave you her bond, I felt betrayed.” She looked at Ria, “I'm sorry, Mathair.”
Ria wanted to take Rana in her arms and comfort her, but when she glanced at Rhyslin, she confirmed her suspicions. He's not finished with her, she thought as she watched her daughter. Be strong, mo nighean ghrinn[1].
Rhyslin watched Rana as well. “What should I do with you, Rana?” He knew how much the admission had cost her. Come on, Rana, it's almost over.
“I deserve to be punished,” Rana whispered as she faced Rhyslin.
Good girl, he thought. “For being so honest, you get to name your punishment.”
Rana absently rubbed her right buttock as she glanced at Ria and Flur. “You could always bond me,” she stated mischievously.
The draoidh sighed as he vaguely pointed toward Ria and Flur. “If those two are any indication, that's not a punishment.” Flur grinned and winked at Rana while Ria hid her face in her hands with the tips of her ears shining bright red. “Pick something else.”
Rana pursed her lips as she considered how she wanted him to touch her. “Since you've already given me two swats, you might as well continue the spanking.”
Rhyslin quirked a brow, “Are you sure?”
[1] My beautiful daughter
There’ll be more of this story coming up next week.
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