Tavington went to check on Maria the next morning. She was there, kicking the dirt as she paced back and forth. If she knew Tavington was there, she chose to ignore him.

"Are you ready to try again?" Tavington asked.

"With what," Maria asked," More bed threats?"

Tavington pulled a chain of keys from his belt and unlocked the door. He entered the prison and moved towards Maria slowly as if she were a ferocious lion.

"You have a lot of fire in you, don't you," he said.

"Whatever you say," Maria said absentmindedly. Tavington caught her by the wrist as she turned around.

"If you want to keep your tongue you will cooperate with me," Tavington said," Whether you want to or not."

"I'm quaking with fear let me tell you," Maria said.

Tavington practically threw her from the prison, and pulled her back into the room they were in the previous night. He then grabbed her other wrist and slammed her against the wall.

"I warned you yesterday," he growled," Did you think I was joking?"

He pressed his lips against Maria's. She kicked him as hard as she could. He backed away cursing and gripping his groin.

"That-was-discusting," Maria said.

"Damn-it," Tavington said through gritted teeth.

"Well," said Maria with a smirk," I can see you're busy so I'll just be going."

She had her hand on the door when Tavington finally pulled himself together and threw himself at the door. Maria moved out of the way. Tavington locked the door.

"Sit...down," Tavington said.

"No," Maria said.

Tavington pulled out his pistol," I will not go through this again. SIT DOWN!"

Maria sat down once again, defeated by the gun.

Tavington paced slowly around her.

"I have had enough of you," Tavington said," I don't know where you get the gull to do such things, but I will tell you right now that if you value life, you will back down from your act of 'bravery' and cooperate."

"Meaning," Maria said sarcastically.

"Meaning," said Tavington," that the striking will stop, or you lose your legs and your hands. Thesarcastic remarks come to a halt or I promise I will fulfill the threat I made. Understood?"

Maria said nothing.

"I said, understood," Tavington said.

Maria nodded.

"Good," Tavington said," Now, what to do with you."

Maria said nothing.

"Usually we put people like you on servant duty," Tavington said," But I think you are too dangerous to work around others."

Wow,something to be proud of, Maria thought.

"Hmm," Tavington said," I'll have to discuss it with the Lord General. For now you will stay in the prison on the ground floor."

Maria sighed," Figures."

"Shut-up," Tavington said. Then under his breath he said," Stubborn child."