Rose and I let them rush ahead and walked slowly back toward our dwelling. We both had to use the facilities, so we found the Lacquered pots on the second floor. The men using the room were heedless of our presence and one simply pointed out the private area set aside for us.

Behind a drape were two pots separated by wood hanging from the ceiling. It was Like our own private “ladies room". I was actually very glad for it.

As I washed my hands Rose Laughed out loud. Whatever was funny amused her greatly and she couldn't stop giggling.

“What is so funny?" I demanded as we skirted quickly past the men using their latrine.

“Can you imagine," she asked, “what Gunth would have said last night if Basin was still putting the plug in my bottom? Can you imagine having to take it out in front of all those men last night? How strange would free men find something like that."

She was right and I had to laugh, too. It would have just solidified what the men already thought of slavers. They would have been totally offended.

“Thank God for small miracles," I said to her and we both Laughed.

Rose and I determined quite quickly we could not sleep alone. After removing our ornamentation from our pockets and hiding it behind the bed, both of us folded our outfits and put them on the shelf under Jonathan's picture. We ended up huddled in my bed, together. The very idea of going into a room and sleeping alone made us both cringe.

We lay silently next to one another listening to the muted sounds in our little cave.

I'd left the fire burning in the main room and the leather drape to my room was open. That allowed warmth and light to still move into our sleeping room. The dancing light coming through the opening flickered and made shapes on the wall. I watched the patterns and allowed them to calm me. How many times had I sat and stared at the fire with Damien and his Brothers?

It took a long time, but I finally drifted to sleep with Rose curled up beside me.

“Psst, Ciara," a familiar voice whispered in my ear, “wake up.”

I was warm and comfortable, but that wasn't Evan's voice. My eyes shot open and I was staring at Tyle’s young face. He was Leaning over me and grinned broadly. Rose roused beside me and stiffened as she realized we weren't alone. The men didn't even notice our initial reaction and continued to smile at us.

“Hello,” Aryn said jovially from behind his Brother, “my male breeder Bane, sent you a message."

I sat up quickly and the blankets fell to my waist. The young men didn't even notice as they all crowded into our bedroom. After having been truly dressed the entire day prior, I felt my nudity and pulled the covers over my breasts.

Aryn knelt in front of me and I saw a large purple bruise on his chin. His brothers were all similarly marked with several bruises and small cuts. He Looked so much like his father. I automatically reached out to touch his bruise and only remembered myself as my hand slid across his face.

The boys looked shocked, but they didn't move as I pulled my hand back.

“I'm sorry," I stammered, “you look so much Like your father, your male breeder. I just wondered how you got that mark on your face."

“We fought for him and his Brothers Last night,“ Aryn said proudly.

“We chose family over the camp and stood watch for a time while they slept. Arnold's family also took a turn. The other men told us we were wrong. They want us to hate Damien and his Brothers. We disagreed with them.”

“Fighting is wrong, violence is wrong," I said, jolted, remembering what Hassar and Reed had told Damien.

“The men that attacked us were sanctioned," Aryn said simply. "We won't let them harm our family or friends, though."