Carrick pulled away the now-useless leather vest and dropped it to the floor. His splayed hand ran briefly over the sweating, muscular back for a moment before he pulled away and stepped slightly to the side. He raised the thinner of the two switches.
"I expect you to take your punishment without complaint. Scream all you want, but if you try to move, I will have no hesitation in chaining you in place and taking a rawhide whip to you."
He waited a moment to allow the boy to prepare himself, then brought the switch down across Liam's shoulders in a vicious, sweeping cut.