“The women told us he does.”


    “He is curious,” I said wincing as the transport careened much too close to the wall. “Men with Earth breeders in their line seem


    more curious. Christof has Earth breeders and he was always the most curious Brother.”


    The men were confused. They didn’t know a “Christof”. “He is Damien’s Brother,” I answered. “He is the fourth Brother in my


    family.”


    Their faces darkened and they looked angry suddenly.


    “He should have known better then,” the lead Brother said firmly. “Once he knew he was the offspring of a ve he never should


    have continued to participate. He should have made it stop.”


    A N G E L A ‘s L I B R A R Y


    Our conversation was cut short as one of the men made a sharp sound. Rose and I were ignored as


    the men drew their weapons and took up posts around the transport.


    Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    “Steady, Brothers,” the man in front said and then it was like the transport was swarmed.


    Creatures that Looked two foot crocodiles were jumping on the air shield around the transport. One of


    them managed to get past the air shield and it came at Rose and me, jaws open. Brand sliced it in half.


    The thing twitched and writhed in two pieces for several moments before the lead Brother stabbed it in


    the head. That stopped it.


    The men cursed in volumes about the nasty creatures. Thom called them giles. I vaguely remembered


    reading about giles. The readings I’d done had noted them as pests in the Londs where water was


    plentiful. They could rarely overwhelm a woman, but they could be trouble for men in rge enough


    numbers.


    “Ciara,” Rose whispered clinging to me. She looked as scared as I felt.


    “Hannah sent good men,” I whispered.


    “We will be okay.”


    Rose’s eyes were wide and she didn’t look like she particrly believed that statement. We were


    tearing though a poorly lit cave with our friend tied on a transport behind us. Things were not Looking


    good for us.


    After the attack of the giles the men stayed on alert. I was happy they didn’t want to talk to us. I wasn’t


    thatfortable with men other than Damien and his Brothers. It would probably take time for me to


    get over that fear, I mused.


    The caves we travelled through eventually opened up a Little and got wider. There were ces we passed over massive


    undergroundkes. I could see the ssy surface below as we roared over it. I remembered Christof had told me about the


    underground Lakes. He must not have known about the underground rivers and tunnels.


    “Tell me,” Thom asked focusing on Rose, “what is your name? My name is Thom rescued from the Youlypound.”


    Rose refused to look up and answer, instead she huddled closer to me. The man’s eyes narrowed as he watched her.


    “They trained you, I know. If you looked at other men they put you out to be hurt. If you spoke the punishment was worse. That


    part of your life is over. We will treat you well in our camp. You will not have this fear any longer. If you wish to speak, you do so.


    Do not fear, silent human,” Thom said with conviction.


    Rose didn’t look up, she couldn’t. I knew that countless moons of indoctrination was preventing her from hearing what the man


    said. Freedom did not exist the way he said it. Even if Basin had said she was “free”, she’d witnessed too much punishment to


    stray from the rules.


    I stroked her hair infort and felt her shiver against me.


    “Her name is Rose,” I told the man softly.