forced preaching

-Dinner, ma'am.

The voice was quite unpleasant. She took a deep breath forcing her best smile. Clear. There were of course men who were really insufferable. Philip. Thalagar and Corner were terrible. But Padraic...

Cassie took a deep breath with a dry, forced smile.

"I just hate that man." the thought was the most explanatory she had.

Empathy? Well, that scumbag only knew how to give orders, and more orders, and more orders.

"He's a friend of Richard's." Another not pleasant thought.

Only the situation was the most dire. She could find all sorts of curses and curse luck. Or argue very seriously with Richard. Or maybe just ignore it for a lifetime. She wasn't a freak to have a boring, bossy, nasty dry nanny. Hecate help her. Had Richard completely lost reality?

"I'm not hungry," she communicated curtly.

What did he call food? Even pigs ate better. Not even in the Star of Tomorrow there was that. The mug of water with larvae and little bugs. Undercooked meat. She could at least make the menu more appealing. Wash. That was definitely a wash for pigs.

"Richard asked me to bring you dinner, witch." Padraic's voice was filled with hatred.

Cassie crossed her arms over her chest, wondering why she put up with that.

-Same?

- A man's mind is softened and transported from an ungodly life to faith and full repentance repentance.

"Did you try that bullshit with Rick too?" she asked irritably.

Padraic eyed her with visible contempt.

- The prophet's vocation is derived from God himself...

-Swear?- she asked with annoyance.

-Canonical scriptures...

- The same law that must give birth to repentance and the gospel to lead to faith? - she laughed admiringly.

There were all sorts of people in life that one might expect. Some actually more obnoxious than others.

- And that god of yours...- she faced him with deep resentment and hatred.- Do you think you have rights to take a child from a mother?

Padraic rolled his eyes.

- He who is completely ignorant, who knows nothing but can be instructed...

-Do not worship or believe in your god. They burned a woman alive. Does it justify or is it called faith? Torture? Violence? Or else be instructed in the basic truths of the faith? Your accursed justification, or sanctification, or the perseverance of God's law?

It was going to be another discussion. She bit her lip in growing irritation and more furious than ever. There was no way she was going to stay on the unfortunate ship. Definitely not with that man.

- The preaching of the Word of God... listening to the preaching and submitting to the word of God...

- Curse of the devils. I'm definitely not a Christian." She yelled more angrily.

And it was at that moment. Magic could be a disaster when you lost control in anger. Cassie shrugged with a sigh. The fantastic wine collection of the precious Richard Morgan... Two bottles smashed in mid-air for no reason. She pressed her aching, furious temples.

-"Jesus loves you. He gave his life for you. Now, if you don't believe what his followers say, he will cast you into hell to be burned eternally, and your suffering will have no end"

Her eyes glowed like white-hot flames.

-Or what, preacher? Jesus gave his life for my sake. Now, if I doubt what they're saying, do they burn the person alive? - She got up from the bed.

Padraic backed away the instant the door opened. And Richard cursed, furious with himself for trying to get closer. It was the image of an enraged pagan goddess and the place reeked of cinnamon.

- What's going on here? - he asked with dismay putting himself between the two.