Zford Protein Station

Rural Treeland

3009

“This is utterly preposterous!” Mara ranted. “I absolutely refuse to be a party to this ridiculous witch hunt!”

“We have no choice, Mara,” Trand stated matter-of-factly. “You will calm your temper at once or I will have no recourse but to take command of you.”

“It is not fair, Trand, and I cannot believe you would subject us both to this!”

“This is a legal summons from the new Panel in the Hall of Consequence. We must appear before the Panel.”

“But, why? Father arranged a Panel Marriage and you satisfied the Claims of Right. It is not fair that we have to appear once again!” Mara was more than a little angry; she was furious. It was nearly a year since she insulted the law officer and found herself remanded in the Hall of Justice, her name posted on the list to appear before the Panel for a hearing. Her dear Father, Lightner, arranged a Panel Marriage for her with Trand Zford, and although she resisted at first, she found happiness with her husband. He treated her as she felt a woman should be treated, as a true helpmate. She had her duties on the Station, and her duties did not include the very things she hated most... cooking, cleaning, and other things normally assigned to a wife. No, Trand respected her abilities to organize and manage, and he put her to work in an area she was best suited for. He gave her respect and her contribution to society was everything she dreamed of when she petitioned for the Assembly.

Of course, Trand expected her behavior to be above reproach. She was to obey, and on those times she failed to do what was required of her, she faced consequences. Trand was inflexible and her punishments were to be dreaded. She knew she was pushing his limits by continuing to argue the subject of returning to the City of Mankind to appear before the Panel in regards to this matter. “Trand, I am most upset by this,” she stated, her blue eyes imploring him to listen to her and give regard to her opinion.

“I am not happy with this, either, Mara,” Trand admitted, reaching across the breakfast table to take her small hand in his large one. “However, it is in our best interests to give regard to the summons. The Panel is powerful, and if we do not satisfy their Claims of Right, they could file more serious charges and we could find ourselves sent off to an unsettled planet to fend as best we can.”

“What if they decide to revoke our Panel Marriage?” she asked fearfully.

“They have no grounds for that, Mara,” Trand said quietly, hoping that his own fears for his lovely wife were not reflected in his eyes.

“I think we should write a letter of refusal, Trand, on the grounds that the Chief Panel himself visited and approved the Claims of Right were satisfied.”

“Mara, it is claimed that Lightner bribed the Chief Panel and you were shown mercy that should have been refused.”

“What?” She shot to her feet and threw her arms up into the air dramatically. “This is without just cause, Trand! The law officer had no legal right to approach me in the first place! This matter was decided ten months ago! I have paid the Claims of Right, and I refuse to accommodate this Panel!”

“You will do as I say, Mara Zford,” Trand said firmly.

“No. I refuse in this matter, husband. My Father acted honorably, as did the Chief Panel; I refuse to be interviewed again when just cause is not evident.”

“You will ready yourself for the drive, Mara. I will ask Ezaly to pack food to nourish us on our journey.”

“I am not going, Trand.”

“You would defy me in this matter?” he asked calmly.

“Not without a heavy heart, husband, but I do not wish to attend the Panel on its whim. I will not go willingly,” she stated, positive it was necessary for her to be firm in order to acquire her husband’s support. Instead, she invoked his husbandly outrage, and she gasped when he grasped her arm just above the elbow as was his custom, and marched her through their home and up the steps to their private rooms. Mara was not a fool and she knew that Trand intended to punish her. “Please do not, Trand!” she tried to dissuade him.

“I do not tolerate defiance, Mara. Especially from my wife. Remove your skirt and your undergarment and lie over the end of the bed. A good leathering will make you more cooperative, I am sure.”

“Trand, no! I did not mean to earn your wrath! I was trying to earn your support!”

“After I gave you my decision, wife, the discussion was over. It was time for your cooperation and obedience… not the defiance I just witnessed. Now do as you were told or you will earn extras with the blisting rod.” He watched Mara pale at the mention of the blisting rod. She hated it, and with good reason. It was a fearsome item with which to be punished, and he only used it for serious situations, or for giving extras earned during a punishment. The burning pain from a blisting rod was extreme.

“Trand, no!” she whispered, tears filling her blue eyes. “I am not defying you, husband! I am defying this new Panel who seeks to disrupt our lives for no good underlying principle!” There was no ‘give’ in his stern expression. Mara was in trouble and no amount of talking was going to spare her the punishment he deemed necessary.

“You have since earned ten extra for arguing with me, Mara. Will another ten be necessary before you accept your punishment and do as you are told?”

“I was not arguing, Trand! I was attempting to explain my views!”

“Twenty.” The spanking he had planned was quickly turning into a very serious punishment. Twenty with the blisting rod would send Mara to bed for the rest of the day!

Mara started crying as she made haste to do as he said. Twenty with the blisting rod would incapacitate her with extreme discomfort for the entire day! Surely her husband would not be so cruel?! Once she was in position, Trand did not hesitate to start spanking her with the leather. It was thin and two inches wide, and hurt like crazy! Trand usually spanked with his hand, and the fact he was starting with the leather told her he was greatly displeased. Why hadn’t she realized that before earning extras with the blisting rod? Mara asked herself. “Owwww!” she cried out in pain as the leather fell again on her tender creamy white skin. “Please, Trand, no more! I am sorry I sounded disrespectful of you. It was not my intent.” 

“You refused to do as I said. Are you still of that opinion?” he demanded, bringing the leather down once more.

She cried out in pain before answering, “I will obey you, husband, but I reserve the right to try and change your mind!” She was nothing if not honest. That honesty earned her another five hard cracks with the leather on her flaming backside. “I will obey you, Trand! Please, no more! I will have no skin left!” she claimed.

“You have skin left, Mara,” he assured her. She was not going to want to sit, however, and the journey to the City of Mankind would be extremely unpleasant. She started to rise, and he gently pushed her down. “You have earned extras, wife.”

“Oh, no! Please do not assign extras, Trand! Have I no right to be upset over this matter?” She pleaded with him. “You are taking my upset personally instead of comprehending that I have every right to be angry with this new Panel! I do not wish to accommodate them and put everything we have built together at risk! Do I not obey you nearly all of the time, husband?” She started crying in earnest then. “Please, husband, if you must give extras, just use your hand! As miserable as I already am, I am sure that will be sufficient to make me regret speaking my mind!”

Trand had to smile. His Mara was certainly outspoken! “You know that once extras are promised they are not forgiven, Mara. However, I feel twenty with the blisting rod would be truly unbearable for you to handle on our drive. I will compromise and give you fifteen with my hand and the last five with the blisting rod. You would do well to remain silent and be grateful for that much forbearance, wife. Arguing the matter, or begging, would only cause me to add ten extra and then give all of them with the blisting rod.”

Mara wisely remained silent. The extras would not be pleasant… but he was only going to use the blisting rod for five of those. She was grateful for that much kindness. At least until he started spanking her with his hand on top of the leather marks covering her tender backside. Trand was strong and his hand hard. The spanks were given with great deliberation, and each one hurt more than the last. Mara cried, and then sobbed. It would be some time before she would permit her mouth to get the best of her again.

After fifteen with his hand, Mara was sobbing and lying limply on the bed, and Trand knew she was thoroughly punished. How on earth he was going to bestow five more with the blisting rod when she was already suffering so much was a mystery, but he had promised, and he felt it necessary to keep his word. He picked up the rod and then brought it down on her sit spots. Mara screamed in pain. He gave her another, and she screamed again. “In lieu of the three blisting rod strokes you are still owed, I will accept a promise from you to cooperate and obey me and allow me to speak in front of the Panel without worry that you will speak out of turn,. Will you give your promise, Mara Zford?” he asked, praying she would take the easy way out. Her poor backside was scorched and she needed mercy right now.

“I will be circumspect, husband… if you will but promise to hear me and speak for me…?” she asked hopefully.

“I will always listen to your concerns, wife. Will you promise you will let me speak for us?”

“Yes, Trand.” 

Trand leaned down and kissed the bottom he had so firmly punished, and then helped Mara rise so he could hold her close and comfort her while she cried and cried. It was a good while before she was able to speak, but when she did, she made him feel guilty as hell. “I am dreadfully sorry I upset you, Trand. I truly did not realize how I must have sounded to you until it was too late to prevent a punishment. I am not blaming you for any of this, and if you must know, I am terrified to go and face those men. I have a feeling they are out for blood. You know that Father would never pay a bribe!”

“No, Lightner is an honest man, and we need to speak for him at his hearing before the new Panel.”

“Thank you, Trand.” She felt better now that she knew her husband was willing to defend her Father.

“Get ready to leave, Mara. We have a very long drive ahead and I want to be in the City of Mankind before dark.”

“Can we not wait until tomorrow?” she asked hopefully. She was not going to be able to sit without grave discomfort for many hours; the two strokes with the blisting rod across her sit spots were still burning furiously and unbearably. Mara did not think she could sit at all right now, especially on the firm seat of his carrier! Even the thought of attempting to do so brought tears to her blue eyes.

“We are leaving in one hour, Mara. I know you are in considerable pain right now, but that is a consequence of your behavior, and was totally unavoidable. Now pack what you will need for several days and I will see Ezaly for a basket of food and drink.” When he saw the forlorn look in her red-rimmed eyes, he went to her and pulled her close. “I give you my word that I will handle this situation with the new Panel, Mara. Do not be afraid.”

“I trust you, Trand,” Mara told him, and she knew she was speaking the truth. It was the new Panel she did not trust. She had a very bad feeling about returning to the City of Mankind, and she simply could not believe that her Father was accused of bribing the former Chief Panel! It was unthinkable!

“You busy yourself now, Mara. I do not wish to have to spank you again any time soon,” he stated, and then kissed her tenderly. “I love you, wife.” He whispered the words, kissed her once more, and then left her to do as she was told.

Mara quickly packed what she would need, and although he did not ask her to do so, she packed for Trand, too. She then went to the facility off their room and scrubbed her face and made herself presentable for the long ride. She wished she might take along a pillow to sit upon for the drive, but she doubted Trand would permit her the comfort. However, she added the pillow, hoping it would make its way to his old carrier.

Once she readied herself to her satisfaction, Mara decided to go and see if Ezaly needed her assistance in the kitchen, but to her embarrassment she walked in on a private moment between Ezaly and her husband, Norath. It was apparent that Norath was displeased and Ezaly was trying to appease him. “I am sorry for intruding,” she immediately offered an apology, but Ezaly merely smiled and said, “You are not intruding in your own home, Mara.”

“We will finish this conversation tonight, Ezaly,” Norath stated, and then turned and walked from the kitchen through the storage room, and outside.

“Don’t mind Norath, Mara. He is not upset with you, just with me,” Ezaly said with an unperturbed smile. “Oh, now, don’t you worry, Mara. Just because we are older does not mean that we do not have to deal with life at times,” she said, her cheeks turning pink.

“Is Norath going to punish you, Ezaly?” Mara was heartsick at the idea of her friend suffering through a spanking, especially since she knew that many of the men on the Station preferred the blisting rod to deal with an errant wife.

“He probably will make me dislike sitting for a few days,” Ezaly admitted. “He would never harm me, Mara,” she defended her husband.

“Mara, you are intruding in personal business between Ezaly and Norath. Apologize at once and go and sit in the carrier unless you wish another lesson with the blisting rod!” 

Mara could see that she had managed to anger her husband once again, and she quickly offered an apology to Ezaly and hurried from the kitchen, tears in her eyes. The very last thing she wanted to do right now was go and sit on the seat of Trand’s carrier!

“That was uncalled for, Trand Zford!” Ezaly told her boss without hesitation. “You completely misunderstood the situation. Mara was not intruding; she was being a friend. And you are wrong to punish her so severely and then expect her to ride in that awful carrier for hours when you could just as easily take an air transport and spare her hours of pain and misery.”

“Mara complained of her discipline?” Trand was furious that she would discuss something so personal with Ezaly.

“Of course not! Have you forgotten it is my contribution to society to tend to this house? I went to collect linens for the wash and opened the door and saw you!” Her dark eyes were shooting fire at him. “Your wife is sweet as can be, and you are too harsh with her by far.”

“Perhaps I should have a word with Norath about this matter?” he said mildly. He did not wish to correct the woman himself, but she was being disrespectful, and he was sure she did not have all the facts or she would not be so eager to defend Mara to this degree.

“It is your choice,” she replied, then rudely gave him her back as she finished packing the basket he ordered. “This is finished, and if you are done upstairs, I will get back to my duties…?” Ezaly made it clear she had nothing further to say to him.

“I have brought down our travel cases,” he said quietly, “and there is no need to return to our rooms.” She turned to walk out of the kitchen just as Norath returned.

“Z wishes to complain to you about me, Norath,” she called over her shoulder and kept right on going, letting Trand know she did not care if he spoke with her husband.

Norath looked at Trand, his black eyes questioning. “What has Ezaly done?” he wanted to know.

Trand shook his head. “I hoped that mentioning your name to Ezaly would calm her ire, but she is angry with me for taking my wife to task. She tells me I am too harsh and that making Mara ride in the carrier is making her suffer needlessly. Am I being too harsh, Norath?” he asked with a worried frown.

“No, you are not, Z. The truth be known, Ezaly is overdue a good spanking over my knee followed by a session with the blisting rod. She is becoming sharp-tongued and is sticking her nose into other folks’ business all the time. I warned her this morning that she was due a good spanking, and she turned right around and tried to boss you around!” Norath shook his head. “Women are more trouble than kids, Z. And, you would think they would settle down when they got a bit older, but if anything, they need a firm hand even more.” He looked at Trand and said, “You go on now with your little lady, Z, and I will give my Ezaly a good lesson in being more respectful to her employer, and to her husband who warned her she has been overstepping.”