That single thought gave me a plan and a purpose. They liked to feel special, so I would give that to them. Their happiness was the key to my survival and I was determined to live.
In the bathhouse that night I washed Master Damien as usual. He seemed to like me to rub along his lines, so that's usually how I organized myself. I ran my hands over his chest and back softly massaging and cleaning. He was so well proportioned.
"Do you have an arm you favor, Master Damien?" I asked as I scrubbed down his left forearm.
He had been sitting with his eyes closed. Opening them, he looked quizzically at me. His expression seemed to be warring between curiosity and irritation.
"There is no end to your questions," he commented, "and no, I do not prefer either of my arms. They work equally well."
That explained why he was built so equally. He didn't preferentially use one arm when he trained and fought. My attention moved to his fingers and I cleaned each one.
"The callouses are thicker on this side," I said running my thumbs over his left palm and fingers.
"Yes," Master Damien said looking slightly uncomfortable, "but I am trained to use both hands," he insisted.
"But you prefer to use this one," I whispered watching his face carefully.
His features hardened slightly and I looked away. I hadn't meant to anger him.
"Wash me, Ciara," he said, "and no more questions."
Well, I had tried and I made up my mind I would try again. Evidently some things they didn't want me to notice.
It was still on my mind when they put me to bed that night. I curled up on my side between Master Damien and Master Evan. There would be mistakes, I soothed myself, but they wanted me to notice them, so I should continue.
I started when I felt Master Damien wrap around my back. He pulled me flush to his chest and was breathing into my ear. When he spoke his breath tickled.
"My brothers know I prefer my left arm to hold my sword," he whispered into my ear. "No one else has ever seen that."
"Yes, Master Damien, I apologize," I said softly.
It wasn't really the appropriate response, but I wasn't sure what was.
He was silent behind me for a short while, but he didn't release me.
The arm across my middle shifted and he started to lightly pluck at my nipples. I bit back the moan in my throat as he fondled my chest.
"I find," he said low into my ear, "my left hand to be more accurate for detailed work... like this. Other men have no such preference. My brothers have no preference."
Squirming under his ministrations I grasped at his arm and felt the play of muscle beneath my hands.
"You are very talented with both of your hands, Master Damien," I whispered.
The chuckle rumbled from his chest and into mine and that tormenting hand thankfully ceased it's chore.
"Go to sleep, Ciara," he said tucking the blankets around us.
I sighed and settled down quite satisfied with myself. Master Damien wasn't angry I had noticed, perhaps it would even make him happy I paid them that much attention. Tomorrow I would continue at the task I had set myself. It was a plan.
It was strange, but it was the little things they liked me to see. They wanted me to notice the details of their lives and personalities. It was like they wanted me to read their minds and react to whatever they were feeling.
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