The rest of the conversation was pleasant, at least between the Administrators. They had lodgings set up for Rose and me already. We would live free in the camp and learn freedom that way.

Reed and Hassar would handle Fuji personally. They had long studied this issue and thought they could fix what had been done. It would take intensive retraining, though, and it had to start gently.

Armant's wish was fulfilled. Rose liked to sew and so did I. It was a skill we had, so when they asked what we wanted to do, I said that. The Administrators were pleased we'd made this decision. To me, it just seemed a safe place to go.

"Come," Gunth instructed, "we will go see your new lodgings and then have a midday meal. We will do more this afternoon."

We turned to leave and the males of our families stood silently in the hall. I started to take a step toward Damien and Gunth got in my way. Rose ran for Basin and Reed stopped her.

“The women you have previously enslaved are free now," I heard Hassar's voice boom behind me.

“If you wish to stay in our camp, you must renounce your Love of slavery and stay away from these women."

“I have no love of slavery and find it abhorrent," Damien said clearly. Gunth turned to watch Damien speak, so I was able to look around him.

“My Brothers and I feel great remorse," Damien continued. "We have done horrible things in the name of training. None of us wish to see this female bound in any way."

I couldn't stop the cry that rose from my very depths, “Damien, I love you and your Brothers! Please, tell them we are family now. Don't let them separate us!"

Damien's face remained impassive, but I saw the flicker of feeling fly across Christof's face and I knew what they were doing.

"We do consider this female family. It has been explained to us that this arrangement is not accepted here. My Brothers and I mourn for our loss, but understand why you do not trust our words or motives. We love this female deeply. We hope that if you allow us to stay, you will see we are changed men."

I heard the promise whispered through Damien's words. Hearing him talk calmed me, they weren't giving up. If they stayed and I stayed, we might be together again.

Basin spoke next. He agreed with Damien. Slavery was wrong and his actions in the past had been reprehensible. Much like Damien, Basin professed a deep love for Rose. She added sweetness and light to the family. Her loss cut them deeply. Both families agreed to take punishment for their prior misdeeds.

Basin and his Brothers offered to take as many beatings as the Administrators thought fit. Damien seconded the idea and said he would receive his punishment gladly. He asked where the family could go to receive the well earned whippings or beatings.

In a surprising act, Evan spoke up and offered to cut his own hair as punishment. He'd never suffered Like that before, but he had never done anything this bad either. The Brothers would do whatever they could to atone.

The Administrators all sought to silence the men. They weren't pleased with the solutions Damien's or Basin's families were coming up with. Several male Administrators in the hall harshly rebuked Gunth for not educating our men sooner.

“Just because they were slavers doesn't mean you do not have to retrain them!" a man working at one of the tables called out.

“It is even more important with them!"

Several men agreed loudly and Gunth raised his hand as though accepting the rebuke.

"This is a free society," Hassar said, acknowledging Damien and Basin's families and speaking more kindly.

“We will not beat you or hurt you to teach you. Those ways of thinking must be left now that you are here. You will learn, but not through physical violence. We respect one another in this place. You and your Brothers must learn to trust your campmates and depend on them. We do not want you to fear us."