Ok, finally got the next scene done and rendered. This one was quite a bit of work. I did a version of it before, but I needed to make changes that ended up being pretty extensive. Then I ran about 40 renders and realized that I just wasn't happy with Sabina's expression. I redid it until I thought it would serve the purpose and re-ran about half the renders where her face showed.
This particular scene took some thought. I wanted one of the Nubians to hold Sabina's feet in place while the other was wrapping rope around the cross to fix them before the executioner drove the nails. How should Hercules, the one holding her feet, actually do that? I wanted a pose that showed him applying his strength, something that would be overwhelming to Sabina, so much so that she would have no hope of fighting her way loose. What I came up with was the pose you see, where he's planted his shoulder and chest against Sabina's left thigh and is leaning into her. His arms are wrapped around her legs, hands gripping them and preventing her from moving her feet, which are tied together. Ajax, meanwhile, is using one hand to pull on the rope, the other to adjust its height on the cross and keep it from slipping down. I like the way it came out. I hope you do too.
Sabina continues to narrate this scene:
Hercules swung my legs back under me. I felt rough wood against the soles of my feet, felt the rasp of it as he pushed my feet up a little higher on the cross. I tried not to struggle and fight.
Oh gods, he’s… he’s positioning my feet, getting them ready for the executioner to nail them to the cross! The pain, oh gods please no, no!
I was panicking, couldn’t get my breath, terrified. Hercules moved in front of me, put his shoulder against the front of my thighs and leaned into me, wrapped his arms around my legs, holding them in place, forcing my feet against the timber. I twisted my head around, trying to see what they were doing to me. I caught a glimpse of Ajax, working behind me and knew he was roping my feet in place.
I was aware of my domina, standing there calmly watching them crucify me. I knew by now she would give me no mercy. There were so many people, so many faces, laughing, leering. They were all around me watching my agonized struggling.