NovelEnglishWe got in the water and I started to rub down Damien. He was tense and not loosening under my hands. Finally I walked around the little bench he was on and Looked questioningly into his face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked softly touching a bruise on his chin.
He hadn’t Looked injured from the fighting, but perhaps he was in pain. Not that being in pain had ever affected him before. Damien just seemed disgruntled.
“The General could have asked our reasoning,” he said tightly. “The other men should know what they think is wrong. No one will ask us about our choice now. It will make it more difficult to make the men see reason.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtI stood shocked and staring at Damien. Their desire forto not look like a slave was intended to garner attention. Damien wanted to show the other men a new way to think. He wanted to guide them.
“You are a General, aren’t you?” I sighed sitting on his lap.
Angela’s Library
“Nu-reeh was correct.”
My statement infuriated him and his stripes darkened. Christof understood what I meant. He explained it was very much like Damien to want to mentor the other men. Damien did a fine job leading his own family.
“Was that what you intended to say?” Damien askedas I pulled the cloth across his chest.
I answered affirmatively and continued to bathe him. The answer seemed to console him for the time being.
We moved upstairs and the men dressed in their linen shifts and put mine on me. I realized, that I had been wearing it for days without noticing. We didn’t have clothing forin the mountains. Not like the light cloth would have been warm enough anyway. The ornamentation I wore up there was necessary for my comfort.
I thought of the mountains and my daughters. The dangers Hannah had discussed terrifiedand I worried for Kennedy. She was leaner than Hannah, but heavier. We’d discussed it and it seemed the human bone structure was actually heavier than the Paterian. Kennedy was fast on the ground and slower in the air. I fretted over her.
I sat staring into the fire after dinner and was surprised when a knock sounded at the door. Basin entered with his family and Rose. She cright toand Looked into my eyes.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“I have seen many humans broken by this planet,” Rose said with great authority Looking over my shoulder.
“The ones that survive seem to stay active. I have given this much thought. Ciara must be kept very active in mind and body.”
It was back, I realized. My face felt slack and I had no memories of what we’d done for dinner. I was slipping in and out of sweird depression.
“You could have just asked me,” I said suddenly furious at them for calling Rose.
“Every tI seem off you don’t have to go call HER.”
I stood up and paced the room. Rose was such a damned know it all. A free, know it all my inner voice reminded me. She was not a slave to anyone. She couldn’t breed, so the women did not care about her and her men considered her family. It would’ve felt good to have just pulled back and slugged her.
The violence in my own thoughts shockedand I unclenched my hands. I becaware of the two families watchingand felt embarrassed. Unbidden a tear crested my eye and I fell apart.
Christof caughtbefore I crumpled to the ground. I sobbed in his arms as he carriedto a chair. We sat together as the conversation Wrapped around us.
Rose told them this sort of thing had happened often at the Keepers. The slaves would hide it and comfort their own. The depression could be manifested with anger, sadness, acting out, or drawing in as I had been doing. She had seen it on Earth and she had seen it here. It was something that happened to humans
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