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“Families of women kept as many men as they safely could. They shared a sacred bond with each family. The bonds took time to grow, but often they were as strong as the bonds you share with your Brothers,” Ra calmly explained. “Once the women decided to keep the men separate from them, the bonds withered away. Soon the women learned they could force a bond, but they didn’t like giving the men access to themselves.”
Hannah interrupted and finished the story sounding angry, “Now there is a chip. Women that own men attune it to the families they keep. You cannot connect to her and she can’t fully integrate into your bond, but she has access to you. She can implant a thought or a summons into you. The idea is placed so deeply that you all believe it originated there.”
We were shocked, every one of us surprised to our core. The men never evaluated where an idea originated. If it was agreeable to the majority, it was just accepted. Of course some ideas were so strong from one of us, we just allowed those things to happen. That must be what Nu-reeh was using, our desire to make the most opinionated Brother happy.
“If she finds you know this,” Ra warned, “it will mean your death. The other women are protective of this information.”
Kein chuckled, “The men already know, at least some of the Administrators,” he said.
The Brothers all remembered my outburst at the Administrator’s threat. At the time they had not understood. Now all the pieces fit. The Administrators, at least a few of them, understood what the women did for control.
“We will watch for it, but we will not act oddly,” Damien assured Hannah. “I believe Nu-reeh would punish us for this knowledge.”
“Men aren’t supposed to know,” Ra mused. “I am surprised the Administrators know…”
Bane chuckled and eyed Ra with some humor, “Men are not all ignorant, young one, we can think just as you can. The Administrators know things about the world, I’m sure they noticed at some point.”
“It is a limited bond,” Hannah continued to explain. “Nu-reeh would have to be close to you all to do it.”
We stay away from her for good reason then, the men decided.
Abruptly the conversation changed and Damien was asking Hannah how her travels were. He even asked her what land she enjoyed best. It would have seemed odd if I wasn’t listening to the internal conversation.
Christof had heard someone coming. Whoever it was in the area was being quite sneaky and avoiding making themselves known. They were coming at us from just above; Christof had noted the rustle of wings and slight change in the shadows.
Hannah quirked a brow at Damien and he nodded to her. The subtle human gesture would not be noticed by anyone but us. Hannah and Ra nodded back and continued with the light conversation for several moments with us. I noted the girls looked around now, intent on finding what Damien had.
There were warring sensations in my head suddenly. The impression we were being watched was replaced with the idea we were alone with Hannah and Ra. The men noticed the aberrant thought and realized it had not come from any one of us.
Nu-reeh was here and close. We hoped she had not heard us speaking. Probably not or she’d already know all she needed to.
“We don’t wish to hold you longer than we should,” Damien said cordially to Hannah. “Your Mama explained you are in the middle of something.”
“Yes,” Hannah sighed signaling ‘up’ silently with her eyes as Damien nodded, “so much travel to do and so much to learn. Ra and I are expected in her female breeders mountain in three nights. She has generously agreed to let us train in her mines for a few days. It is a test really, to see if we are worthy of being claimed by her later.”
“Fly safe, Hannah,” Damien said clasping her arm and pulling her into a hug, “and best of luck to both of you. You also Ra, fly safe.”
Hannah hugged Damien and then me tightly.
“Come visit when you can,” I said hugging the girls and keeping a steady voice.
Hannah and Ra flew off and Damien lounged against the rock wall. Inside my head was the idea we should talk about what Hannah had just said. It would feel good to relive the conversation. The hair on my neck prickled with fear. This compulsion came from outside of us.
“So the girl likes to travel,” Kein said throwing rocks like baseballs toward another cliff. “Didn’t we tell her she would?”
“Wish she’d bring more tami leaf,” Evan said. “You should have asked her, Brother. She said she’d been in that area,” he addressed Damien.
Damien talked to his Brothers about the places Hannah had mentioned to him. He admitted he was glad for my sake she was doing well. I could be so flighty when it came to my child. I should gain confidence in my ability to breed strong children with them.
We all felt Nu-reeh leave. She had been sitting above us, watching and listening, but the conversation we had was intentionally boring. She’d obviously flown away when nothing interesting was being said.
Damn that woman, was the general opinion. My personal thoughts were fearful. I would have to be very careful. Hannah should be very careful, too. Nu-reeh already suspected my girl was up to something.
We went inside and wound our way toward the eating hall. I was worried about Hannah and Damien scoffed at me. She was strong and smart, wily even. She learned fast and had his memories. Our daughter would be fine.
Evan even thought after a couple more moons Hannah might be able to physically take on Nu-reeh. Bane would bet on her. He’d certainly bet on that Sister she had. Hell, the whole family would bet on those girls. My concern was ridiculous and embarrassing.From NôvelDrama.Org.
“I would not allow you to tell Hannah you felt that way,” Damien told me frowning and looking back at me. “She will not disgrace her family. To imply you think she would be weak is… unfathomable. I won’t listen to another word of it.”
The men were settled and I better be ready for a fight if I wanted to keep up this line of thinking. Hannah was one tough female and honest to a fault. There was nothing this world could dish out she couldn’t handle.
“Let it go, little Sister,” Bane said reaching out and squeezing the back of my neck lightly.
“Our way is better,” Christof soothed from my other side.
It was like a physical weight lifted off when I released the worry. Their assurance flooded my mind and I believed them. They did know about the women here and Hannah had the makings of a fine, strong female. By the time we made it to the dining hall I was completely relaxed.