Chapter 8: Annalisa’s submission

I dread to think what other duties Drax might have been assigned. He seems only capable of one type of task. Nico is left standing where he is, trembling from the residue of the emotions wracking through his body. It’s no fun having your airway constrained, and limiting the flow of blood to your brain soon brings on dizziness, but sometimes unconsciousness. Alejo moves across to where Nico is standing and examines the young man carefully.

“Let this remind you never to speak to me again with defiance in your voice,” says Alejo once he’s removed the collar from Nico’s neck. “Now get out of my sight.”

Nico doesn’t need telling twice. Noor is ignored as she waits for further instructions. Alejo turns his attention to me.

“See how kind and generous I can be, slave,” says Alejo with an insincere smile on his face. “Now I believe you owe me an answer. Do you acknowledge me as your master.”

“Yes, your majesty,” I reply, trying to keep what little dignity I can muster in the circumstances.

“Excellent! So let’s begin your training. Who are you?”

“Annalisa Monti, Princess of Cambris,” I reply, puzzled by the question.

“Wrong answer,” snaps Alejo. “You no longer have a name, title or home. You are simply ‘Slave’ until I choose to give you a name. My slave. Mine to do as I will. So, let’s try again. Who are you?”

“I will recognise you as my master, your majesty. But I am still Annalisa Monti, Princess of Cambris. I’m your prisoner, not your slave.”

“Pah! I can see that we’ve a lot of work to do. But there’s still time. Your defiance will only result in the needless punishment of innocents. You are cruel beyond belief.”

“You’re the cruel one, your majesty,” I retort.

“Yes, I’m cruel. I admit it. It’s the only way to rule the Briniates. But you are just as cruel to allow innocents to face punishment for your defiance. You only need to willingly submit to me, and I will see that their suffering ends.”

Alejo only wants to replace one kind of suffering with another. But he is so convinced of his righteousness that he will never admit it.

“Return to your cage,” says Alejo abruptly. “You need time to think about your situation. We’ll resume your training later.”

Upon Alejo’s signal, two Briniates guards come rushing over to where I’m standing and haul me back to my tiny prison. The cage has been moved into a small annex of Alejo’s throne room. I can’t see into the throne room, but I can hear what goes on in there. The guards lock my ankle chains to the sides of my cage. I’m left alone to my thoughts. Daylight streams through the small window above my cage. Nobody comes near me and I am forced to endure hours of boredom.

Boredom is now my biggest enemy. I let my mind drift onto more pleasant matters to pass the time. If Alejo’s general has kept his word, then the citizens of Cambris should now be safe from any further threat from the Briniates. Of course, I’ve no means of knowing if the general has kept his word, but he has no reason to continue his assault on our territory now that I have surrendered to Alejo. Despite his victory, I know enough about military tactics to understand that the Briniates army is spread dangerously thin by their recent conquests. Alejo can’t maintain control over Cambris and his other conquests while at the same time invading more countries. That’s why he needs me broken to his will. My total submission to his control will enable him to install me as his puppet on the throne of Cambris. In the meantime, he risks rebellion in Cambris and elsewhere.