I redoubled my efforts and that made them laugh harder. Even my family found it humorous and started to tease me. Let them laugh, I decided.

When Bane was adequately distracted I managed to just nick him with my blade. I saw Rose smirk at the relentless laughter that earned Bane. How humiliating for him to be harmed by someone Like me, they taunted. He wasn't embarrassed; he just pushed harder and forced me to work more.

Bane told me if I'd managed to get the best of him, I must be learning. He'd teach me as much as he could today, he'd said happily. I groaned at the implication.

The sun was Low in the sky when the men had enough entertainment. I was absolutely exhausted, which is probably why it wasn't fun to watch anymore.

During the afternoon the process of forgiveness seemed to have been started, which I was glad to see. Basin talked casually with Damien and the men were all relaxed. Other than Bane and I, no one was fighting.

Once we were finally done, Evan brought me inside and stripped me of my dirty, sweaty clothes. He washed me efficiently. While we stood in the shower he praised me for learning. The other Warriors didn't think a human could learn as fast as I did. He was proud of me.

I was changed into my ornamentation and brown cover. We flew back to the compound as the sun settled along the horizon. The other families had left some time before, so it was just us.

"I don't think they believed you," I told Christof. We were still in rough countryside, so I didn't think it would be wrong to talk right now.

Christof shrugged and grinned.

“They invaded our private family time to fight with us. They stayed and asked us for the truth. It's their own fault if they didn't like it."

He wasn't alone in that opinion and the rest of the family agreed. If they didn't like Damien's opinion, they should not have asked for it.

I shook my head and what I said came out sounding like a scolding.

“If you upset them, it will make the General angry. You can't advertise an opinion that different without catching some sort of grief for it-"

Evan interrupted to bark a laugh. They would tell their two groups of friends the truth from now on. If the other men didn't like it, that was their problem.

I saw an opportunity, an opening if you will, so I took it.

"I Like to tell my friends the truth, too," I said to the group. "Rose and Fuji are loyal friends. May I still speak honestly with just them?”

Silence met my request. I looked up to see the men deep in thought. They were lost for a moment in the internal conversation.

“Only," Damien said, “if you inform us of what you are telling them and only if their owners do not mind. We do not like surprises from our cousins."

That seemed fair, really fair in fact. "I would never tell them I was bonded to you when I was pregnant," I promised. "I won't say anything that may harm you all.”

“How would that harm us?" Kein asked from behind the control panel.

I stammered out an answer. It would be rude to discuss their personal thoughts and feelings with anyone. That type of thing should be kept private. They had a right to their privacy.

They roared with laughter at that. It seemed ridiculous to them. Basically, I didn't want to discuss Kein's love for the green stalks, but I'd freely share the biggest secret on the planet.