There was no reason to argue with them, but I rolled my eyes involuntarily. One day they'd appreciate this knowledge, I hoped.

Our time at the cabin lasted five more days. There were times the horror of why we were here struck me. I was building a family I would never be permitted to know. The thoughts caused depression and I needed to be pulled out of it frequently.

When the depression happened the men always had something fun they'd take me to do. We took walks in the hills and swam in a small lake located a short transport ride away. My men took me with them when they hunted for supper. I even helped prepare it several times. That was fun and distracting.

The men had brought my sword and some mornings Bane trained me. When they were feeling rambunctious they'd play fight each other. During the times they did that I sat on the side and watched them. I tried to memorize the way the moves looked. While the training would never help me, my daughters would get something from it.

"I am curious," Christof said as we packed to go home on the sixth day.

“How will the Healers know Ciara has conceived?"

Evan Laughed and slapped him on the back. "What's to miss Brother? You remember the stomach, no one could miss that."

Damien agreed and I rolled my eyes.

“The stomach takes several moons,” I informed them.

“They will probably test my body for...chemicals. The first thing I noticed was the nausea and vomiting. That started about thirty days in Last time..." I mused.

Now I had their attention. They wanted to know what I meant about nausea. I told them I threw up every morning for at least a couple turns of the small moon, maybe longer. Damien was livid.

No one had told him the pregnancy would make me ill. He was furious that his Sister was being forced to be sick, especially for that Length of time. This was not a weak family, we would fix this.

“Don't worry, Ciara,” he told me, sickness. You will not be ill."

I will find a way to stop your

I laughed at him, which offended him. Stopping my morning sickness had been nearly impossible the last time. I couldn't imagine it would be better now.

Damien squared his shoulders and looked down into my face. "You will not be ill," he informed me firmly.

“It's not a choice," I sighed. "It just happens.”

Damien Looked down at me, unflinching in his resolve, "I will stop it from happening."

"You can't."

We stood staring at one another for a long moment before Bane spoke. "I side with Damien," he said finally.

Christof took my side and I realized they had turned this into a bet.

“Morning sickness just happens. Lots of Earth females get it,” I stressed. "It is not a weakness you can fix."