In between bites Bane explained the General was looking for new ways to punish them. They seemed quite immune to his whip. He had thought letting the other Warriors have a go at them would be a good idea. It had been, until I came along.

Kein took a break from eating to tell me that I had really interrupted the proceedings. The young Warriors in the compound had not realized how strong the family was. After seeing how easily Bane could escape the punishment bar, it made them wary. Being on the bad side of men like Damien's family was foolish.

“They stopped really hitting us after you left," Evan told me. "They were afraid of angering us."

I didn't have to be part of the internal dialogue to know the topic. The other men were wimps and it was good to be the best. They were all certain of it.

My men were obviously tired. I pushed and cajoled them toward the bed, but they said they had to stay up. Guests were coming.

My curiosity was peaked. Evan found it a game and refused to tell me who was visiting at this Late hour. Instead the men made me guess. My ideas went from impossible to improbable. I had no idea who was coming over.

The Healers showed up and greeted Damien politely much to my surprise. They asked that my linen cover be removed so they could check me. The family relented and I was sat on one of the floating tables the Healers brought into the room.

If this was Earth and not Pateria, I would have called what the men did a physical. My body was measured and prodded thoroughly. Swabs were taken from my mouth and vaginal area. The men took samples of urine. The Healers recorded everything about me.

Before the men left they asked about the health drink. Damien explained an extra one had been ordered when I vomited the first. The Healers recorded that information and praised Damien for good thinking. I started when they told him Nu-reeh would be pleased, she had been confused why they ordered an extra dose. I absolutely could not miss the drink.

The Healers left and the family was ready for bed. The men didn't even bother to tell me what was going on. I had to ask.

“You must stay healthy," Christof explained stretching out on the bed.

“Nu-reeh wants you cared for a certain way, so the child will have every advantage."

“When you become pregnant," Damien said yawning, “we will go back to the mountains immediately."

That was it for the men and the explanations were done. Before I could formulate my rampaging thoughts into more questions, they were snoring lightly around me. The men were exhausted.

I wasn't tired and stared out the window at the stars. Finally safe and at home, I could think about what was happening. This was slavery again.

Whether I wanted to give them to her or not, Nu-reeh would take my children from me. The girls I could handle. Hannah was powerful and we could still talk. The idea of sons that I would never know broke my heart. I wondered how many would Leave me before I stopped caring.

It was a long time before sleep finally took my teary eyes.

At the Keepers I talked to Rose and Fuji. Rose lamented the loss of my children with me. Fuji didn't understand that, but she would miss me when I had to leave to give birth. It was a depressing conversation for all of us.

The next days passed without incident. I was given my health drink twice a day. The Healers came and checked me over. Damien explained that would become a pattern.

Nothing was very exciting until one morning Damien told me Basin wanted to share a meal. He had some special form of entertainment in mind, so I would not be dancing. Basin and his Brothers would be joining us for dinner in our rooms that night.

It was to be quite a meal, Fuji's owners would also be coming. The three families were good friends. Damien and his Brothers were looking forward to visiting with their friends outside of work.

The morning of the famed meal I went to the Keepers and Rose wasn't there. Perhaps her owners had the day off and had kept her home. Fuji and I spent the day talking and Laughing. We both hoped Rose had a good day with her owners.