Ann Wilson

“ Killian spoke again. "Alanna thanks Vader, and Alanna says this." He hoped Jason could read Sandeman expressions better than he could their way of thinking. Obviously he didn't realize that Miklos controlled two-way access to any set tuned in to a conference call, and that his conversation had been heard in all the clans. "There is precedent for a clan to give countenance to an off-worlder, and others have adopted our customs; our Earl Klaes and his family even use the clan-prefixes offered them by Shona."
He paused, turning to Dana and smiling. "Dana Manfredi." ”

“ Dana inclined her head in the closest she could come to a bow.
"Good afternoon, Dana," the w'woman said. "I am Mona, a warriors'-woman of Clan Lewies and your doctor. How do you feel?"
"Better than I would've thought possible when the warrior Garvey found me," Dana said. "Thanks for everything you've done for me."
"My pleasure," the w'woman said. "Fortunately you were found before your attackers did anything life-threatening to you, though some of your injuries could be classified as moderately serious for a Terran. I do have you on rapid-heal, since there was no infection. ”

“ Dana Manfredi has acted in full honor at all times. Although it has never happened, Vader says the proper procedure for a thakur to release a 'na without dishonor to either would be for the 'na's tattoo to be barred, exactly as if honorable service had been ended by the thakur's death. In attempting to have her killed, especially in the way he did, and then by dismissing her to seek the death of one who has hurt or dishonored his thakur, Jason has forfeited all claim to honor. ”

“ Mentally you've always been more Sandeman than Terran anyway ... yes, that would be best. Imitate your Sandeman idols again." He started to turn away.
"Yes, Thakur." Dana went as cold as his voice had been, wishing she had died back in the mountains, never had to hear this.
"Mister Jason!" the w'woman snapped.
He turned back. "Yes? You don't approve?"
"I do not, but I cannot interfere between thakur and 'na. So long as you both live and she wears your mark, however, she is yours; no one else may be involved in what you order for her." ”

“ By the time they finished the rapes and began a general beating, she could no longer control her reactions; she fought and screamed and wept, to no effect, until she felt consciousness starting to depart, and welcomed it. ”

“ She was pulled off before she could complete it, held securely despite her struggles while the attackers gave her thakur a fast frisking.
"Hell, he was telling the truth," the leader finally said in disgust. "No trace of a wallet or anything that'd hold that kind of cash." He backhanded Jason, almost casually. "You've been one hell of a lot of trouble, Jason, for no return. Want to try convincing us we shouldn't kill you for it?"
"You can't kill him!" Dana exclaimed, horrified. "He's— You just can't!" She took a deep breath; these men would need more than her emotions to discourage them. ”

“ Dana said. "Alanna first, if I have to pick one. If their chief won't help, just keep going until we find one who will."
"A good choice." The w'woman dialed the bedside phone, obviously a familiar combination, then spoke to the warrior who answered in High War Speech. Dana could understand only an occasional word of that variant of Classical Russian, though she could read and write it fluently; all she could gather was that the w'woman was asking for the Alanna.
A few moments later, a man wearing the arms of Alanna's chief appeared on the screen, introducing himself as Killian. ”

“ Dana was as stunned as she had been when Jason spoke the formula of dismissal. "Chief—"
He raised a hand to silence her. "What to do about your situation cannot be decided by a single clan-chief, even the chief of the First Clan. But I doubt that you—or I—will be left in suspense long, once the Miklos sees that tape and has called the conference I requested. ”

“ Six hours, Dana thought as Killian's image disappeared. That meant she might live seven or eight, depending on how badly the beating had weakened her.
"Do you understand?" Arden asked.
Dana turned to the w'woman, fear growing as her shock faded. "What's in the text-tapes, yes. Not the details of the ... execution."
"Those can vary; they depend on the clan-chief." Arden looked almost sympathetic, Dana thought. "You know, then, that you will receive no more pain medication, that no one will speak to you unnecessarily, and that when your escort arrives you will be placed under restraint." ”

“ Arden gave her the injection, then said, "It will take effect in a few minutes, and once it does, I will also have to start treating you as an oathbreaker. However, I told the Alanna that there was more to this than appears on the surface, and he has agreed to contact Torrance for the interrogation reports, then watch a copy of the monitor tapes from here that I will send with his warriors. That will probably have no effect, but this is an unprecedented situation; it could make a difference." ”