4.8 Burning issue
But behind him, Seur was another
matter. Grisingh felt his body pressing
back into Grisingh’s back. He felt
twitches of Seur’s pain as tar spat off
the torch and stung burning on Seur’s
bare skin. The sudden intake of breath.
His chest was feeling on fire with the
heat. Sweat pouring down their backs
pressed together. Seur’s nipples surely
wrinkling as the intense heat savagely
scorched at sensitive flesh. Grisingh
was suffering too. Holding steadfast,
showing no reaction, that was
mind-crippling hard for him too.
But why should Seur be subjected to
this? What had he done to deserve this?
After what he had been put through?
After the way he had fought against
all reason and saved Grisingh from a
whipping?
Grisingh felt his own body crumple
momentarily. Seur had let out a
painful hiss. A broken cry as the pain
became too much. Grisingh felt a
moment of weakness. Guilt as Seur
could not take the heat. His loud
intake of pained breath shuddering to
the agonies of Seur’s flesh. For a
moment, Grisingh felt enfeebled by
this shock. Why should Seur suffer all
over again? For Grisingh? What was
he? A soldier. No more.