Monroe's voice snapped me out of the semi-trance I had been in since Monroe began tying Nessia. "Zach, feel the bindings." He waved me closer. "Never too loose and never tight enough to restrict blood flow." He pulled Nessia up by her braid so she was in a straight kneeling position. "You should always be able to slip a couple of fingers under the ropes. If you cannot you know they are too tight."

I bent down and felt along the rope; a zing passed through me at the contact of ...