"We are satisfied," he said quietly. "No more is needed. You understand now, that is good."

The cream on my head left me hazy and relaxed. That volume used didn't remove my memories, though. As Rose and Fuji played a card game on the bed, I realized what they'd done.

They'd used Rose to get to me. She was obviously better versed in the delicate art of human psyche than Damien and his Brothers. They didn't talk to me because they didn't want to screw up her work.

"Rose?" I called quietly.

My eyes were shut because the cream made me dizzy, but I felt her leaning over me. Her slender hands were on my upper arms and her breath was on my cheek as she answered. She was such a tiny yet powerful creature.

“Did they ask you to make me...see reason?"

She leaned on me a little more fully, but still there was almost no weight at all.

“It is not my place to say," she said softly backing away and going back to her game with Fuji.

Of course not, I thought as I let my mind wander. She was an obedient slave, she'd not speak out of turn, Still, I pushed. "They won't know," I told her cracking one eye open.

“Yes, Ciara, they will know. Now stop with this. You know what you must do and now you have a good reason to do it. Hannah is a good reason, I'm glad you understand that."

“Yes.”

“Then sleep for a little while," she said as I drifted off.

The men came back to me late that night looking dirty and scuffed, but relieved. They stripped out of their dirty garments and I saw bruises on them, but no bad wounds.

As I watched them disrobed, they watched me. None of them said anything though. They Looked relaxed despite their disheveled appearance.

Their actions spoke for them. They took me off my tether and they didn't put one back on. When we left the apartment, no one restrained me. I took these as signs that had relented and were forgiving me. Since they didn't talk about it, I didn't either. Instead I commented on their appearance.

“Was there a fight?" I asked as we walked down to the bathhouse.

“Men from the compound on the other side of the great barren stretch,” Christof told me. "They were bandits and have been raiding the traveling men. We found them after the midday meal. It was quite a battle. Several groups escaped, but we brought one family before the General.”

“Very good," I praised.

I wondered if my sons would be outlaws or bandits. It was a possibility. Those men seemed to keep the Warriors happy, so that was good. It was a delicate balance the women allowed the men to have here.

I was a little clumsy, but still managed to make Damien grunt happily as I rubbed him. Tonight I washed all of them, even Christof slid under my hands. I smoothed my palms over each of them and felt them melt a Little under the caresses.

The pool was nearly deserted when I was done. I Looked up and glanced furtively around. There was almost no one here. I'd never heard it so quiet.

“Increased patrols to find the bandits," Bane said answering the unasked question. "We would usually have taken a night patrol as well, but we have...other responsibilities."