Samsu gave Eliana a cold, appraising stare.

She held his eyes with her own for a few moments, her gaze full of sullen resentment, before dropping her head to her knees and hiding her face.

'What do you think, Ashan?' he called to where his stepson sat on the floor cushions reading a tablet.

'Hmm? About what, sir?' he looked up.

'The whore. Has being chained improved her behaviour?'

Ashan hesitated; there was no answer he could give that would benefit Eliana. If he said that her behaviour was improved, Samsu would want to ensure she continued it. If he said that she had not improved, he would keep her there until she did. 'I haven't heard any negative reports from her guards. But whatever it has done for her behaviour, being chained has certainly not improved her appearance.'

'Explain.'

'Well, look at her, sir. If you don't mind me saying so, she could use a wash. Even a pet dog needs to be bathed once in a while. I wouldn't want her in my bed looking that dirty.'

Samsu scoffed, 'a visit to the bathhouse is a privilege to be earned. But if she has not been rebellious this week, perhaps I could see my way to striking a bargain.'

Eliana raised her head to show that she was listening.

'Would you like that, karkittu? A visit to the baths. You are beginning to look and smell like a stray animal, after all.'

She nodded, not wanting to risk speaking and allow audible hatred to seep into her voice.

'Very well – you may go, under three conditions. Firstly, you will go with guards. They will stay with you at all times. You will not make any foolish and futile attempts at escape, because I assure you they will not go well. Next, you will not so much as look at or speak to another person while you are unchained. I will hear about it from your guards if you break this rule, and you will not be allowed out again. Lastly, you must come to me willingly afterwards.'

The last condition made her stomach turn; the thought of laying with Samsu again was sickening. Her spirit would never be willing, but for the sake of an hour's freedom, perhaps she could force her body to quiescence while he took his pleasure.

He would have her again whether she came willingly or not; she supposed she might as well be clean when he did.

She nodded again.

'Very well then, we have an agreement. You will go under guard, bathe, and then pay the price for your privilege. Ashan, make the necessary arrangements.'

'Sir.' Ashan inclined his head and returned to his tablet, suppressing a triumphant smile.

*

True to his word, Samsu had two guards come for her the following day. The chink as the padlock opened and released her collar from the chain was the sweetest sound Eliana had ever heard. It took all her self-restraint not to run as soon as it dropped away – not because she thought she had any real hope of escape, but because she needed to spend her pent-up energy and feel swift and fleet again, moving her legs as fast as they would carry her. The guards would not see it that way.

As she was led to the bathhouse, she revelled in the simple pleasure of putting one foot in front of the other without being held back. It had been over a week since she had been able to venture more than three steps at a time; her knees shook a little, the guards following close at her heels. They didn't see a single living soul on their way there, and when they reached the squat white building, it was deserted.

Eliana was sure that this had been arranged deliberately, but she didn't care; she stripped off the dirty gown shamelessly – it had hidden very little anyway – and plunged into the warm water.

It greeted her like an old friend, embracing every part of her body and soaking away the tension with the grime. She sighed and tilted her head back in the water, letting it saturate her hair and creep across her scalp with a pleasant prickle. Floating there for a few minutes, she absorbed the peace – the gentle sounds of water lapping against the stone sides of the bath pool; the play of sunlight on the ripples, reflecting Utu's rays onto the low ceiling and shattering them into a hundred writhing ribbons; the silken feel of the warm water against her skin.

Reluctantly, she picked up the soap and began to wash herself – she did not have long to spend here. If she took advantage, Samsu might not let her return. She was keen to stay on his good side; even if he would not give her freedom, she might be able to restore some of these small pleasures to her life if she played him the right way.

She massaged soap into her hair, wanting to get it as clean as she possibly could, painfully aware of not knowing how long it might be until her next wash.

After a final rinse, she sighed again, pushed her way through the water to the edge of the pool and hauled herself out. A clean sheet of linen and a dress had been left on a table for her. Wringing her hair out and twisting it into a wet knot at the nape of her neck, she dried off with the sheet and wrapped it around herself to hide her body from the guards' intrusive eyes. She held the new gown up to the light to inspect it.

It was as flimsy as the gold dress she had just discarded – she put her hand inside it and looked, the details of her nails were clearly visible, a sure indication that it would not hide any other detail either. She squirmed a little inside; she had worn the other gown for a week and had not once managed to forget that every secret part of her was permanently on display.

She blushed as let the sheet drop and dressed, the sky blue silk caressing her as it slid over her skin. Anointing her arms and legs with jasmine oil, she was ready to go.

Her legs felt leaden as she walked back to Samsu's apartments. She stood meekly as her chain was reattached; the gut-wrenching crack of the lock snapping back into place was almost unbearable.

She sat heavily back onto the cushions to await Samsu's pleasure. He had held up his end of their bargain – now he would surely call upon her to honour hers.

Night was drawing in when he returned to his chambers.

'All clean, karkittu?'

'Yes.'

'Yes, what?'

'Yes, sir.' She amended petulantly.

'And you remember your promise?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Then, when Ashan removes your chain, you will come over here, strip off your dress and spread your legs for me with no defiance?'

Her throat constricted. She swallowed hard and nodded.

'Very well.' He gestured to Ashan, who moved behind her and unfastened the chain.

No resistance, she told herself. Go to the bed, strip off, spread your legs. It's not difficult. Just do it.

Her legs refused her when she tried to move them at first, but through force of will alone she walked steadily towards him. Pulling the dress over her head, she shivered in the evening chill. She sat onto the bed, lay down on her back and parted her thighs, wanting to cry with the shame and embarrassment of it as he stared between them with his habitual amused smirk.

'You see, Ashan? I make her a bargain and still she cannot obey.' There was laughter in his voice.

She immediately sat up and closed her legs. 'I did exactly as you ordered!' she said indignantly, adding 'sir' as an afterthought.

'You did not. I made no mention of getting onto the bed, or lying down. Come here,' he beckoned.

Moving to the edge of the bed, she slid off and stood in front of him. He grabbed her by the hips and spun her around, facing her away from him, exposing her full front to Ashan. Her cheeks flamed red – she would happily undress for Ashan, but not like this.

Samsu cupped a breast in one hand and her neck with the other – it was still bruised from where she had fought the chain; she winced. Burying his face in her hair, he inhaled deeply. He had been out riding that afternoon, and smelled of the summer breeze mingled with horse sweat; to Eliana, it was the perfume of freedom.

Squeezing her breast, he bent her over at the waist.

Realising his intention with a jolt of horror, she bit her lip hard to stop herself crying out.

He leaned over her, pressing her into the bed. A hot whisper in her ear hissed, 'as I have you chained like a dog, I shall fuck you like one as well.'

Hitching up his tunic, he positioned himself at her entrance, holding her by the hips. She balled her fists in the silken sheets and whimpered as he drove himself inside her with a red-hot flash of pain. He did not wait for her to adjust, but thrust into her over and over, hard enough to give a sickening jolt to her stomach with each motion.

Biting down on her lip until the blood welled up from the soft flesh gave her a different pain to focus on. Her eyes were flooded with unshed tears, making the bed swim under her. She lifted her head; Ashan was watching, his impassive face carefully blank.

Samsu moved faster and faster, wrapping the length of her hair around one hand. She yelped in shock as he wrenched her head back and arched her spine; she felt rather than heard his amusement.

Giving an agonised groan of pleasure, he leaned over her and wrapped his free hand around her throat. He squeezed hard until she coughed and choked and began to fight to draw breath.

With a shudder and gasp, he was spent. He stood there for a moment, panting, before pushing Eliana onto the floor and collapsing forward onto the bed.

He gave a breathy laugh as she lay curled up, shaken and disgusted on the cold tiles. 'If you are going to be this good, perhaps I'll allow you a bath every week, karkittu.'

She trembled violently, wishing there was a way to rid herself of his seed as it oozed uncomfortably between her thighs.

'Put your dress back on and return to your chain,' Samsu ordered. 'I'm finished with you, for now.'

Ashan clipped the padlock shut again with no hint of sympathy, though inside he was afire with rage. His loyalty to Samsu had always been unwavering, but this bold, brave girl made him see his commander for what he was, and he did not like it.

Arranging her cushions to create a nest, Eliana lay down with her back to Ashan, pulling the blanket up over her head, shutting the whole world out and creating a private shelter where she could be alone with her shame.