“It was a rush job, but Mistress Nu-reeh wanted this done,” Fredrick said pulling one of those brown covers from his bag, arge bulky one. Gloves of the same material were handed to Christof as two long boots were pulled out.


    It looked like a brown leather coat that would go to my feet, but Fredrick looked expectantly at Damien. Evidently it was something more.


    “Try to cut it,” he said proudly.


    Christof handed over a small knife and Damien slid it along the coat sleeve.


    “Harder, man!” Fredrick said taking the knife and stabbing repeatedly at the coat.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    It wasn’t even scratched, causing my family to surround the outfit and really look at it.


    “Made from the leather of some animal the women catch and skin. They have to provide us with special tools to cut and sew it. Your ve would be undamaged even if you put it in the middle of a battle,” Fredrick said proudly.


    The hood on the outfit had a shield for my face. The men could attached a fine, strong mesh to the front. No one could see in, but I could see out just fine. If the men wished me entirely covered they should just pull up the hood and attach the mesh to the front.


    “Some men,” Fredrick said conspiratorially, “require such material for their pants and coats. The Administrators instruct the shopkeepers when they are making clothing. Those of us that work with fabric talk. We know of a few men that require such specialized clothing.”


    Fredrick looked at Damien and stepped slightly closer.


    “Can you tell me why certain men require such tough clothing?” Fredrick whispered.


    Damien was confused and didn’t really understand the question. I could see it from the look on his face. Inspiration hit me and I touched my stomach as I gasped.


    Men with human ancestry may not have the same tough skin as a full blooded Paterian male. My fragile skin was what Nu-reeh wanted protected, just as she would protect my son.


    Christof looked at me when I made the sound and he saw where my handsy. Our eyes met and I knew he understood now.


    “Certain creatures,” he said slowly, “have softer skin than us. I imagine that the offspring of those creatures would have to be protected.”


    Fredrick smiled at Christof and looked him up and down. “At first,” he said, “your clothing was made that way. After a while the Administrators sent down word you could wear what your Brothers wear.”


    Fredrick wanted to know what we knew, namely that Christof had human ancestry. Obviously no one had been sure how tough his skin would be when he was small. I was personally ufortable sharing such information with him. Evidently Damien was also. The family had to be protected at all times.


    “We aren’t sure, Fredrick,” he said politely opening the main door. “We must be on our way. Nu-reeh expects us to reach the cabin around night fall.”


    Evan and Bane assisted Damien and Fredrick’s family was guided out quickly. Christof’s ancestry was family business and not for public knowledge. I personally was relieved that Damien had shooed Fredrick out. Certain things just shouldn’t be spread around, I understood that now.


    After dressing me in a warm blue outfit, the new coat, gloves, and boots were put on me. The material was very light, but I felt no wind at all as the transport started. The outfit would be very protective and not ufortable.


    I looked around as we flew and four other transports went with us. Through my mask I examined the other families. They were all armed and tough looking.


    “You notice your guard?” Bane asked looking down at me.


    I nodded and looked up at him.


    “They will fly with us all the way to the cabin we stay in tonight,” he said. “We are to share shifts with them and protect the cabin. The Administrators ordered that a family stand watch at all times. The other men are to leave in the morning, we assume before Nu-reeh arrives.”


    That was the oddest thing I’d ever heard. We’d stayed several times in cabins by the mountains. Never once had we had a guard when we went or even while we slept.


    My hand strayed to my belly. I’d never been pregnant with a son before, either. I wondered if all this was protection for my son. It seemed like the only answer, but I was sure that couldn’t be it.


    The other transports flew near us, but Damien wasn’t bothered by them. We talked and joked like we usually did. They even took the face mask away so we could watch each other. Things seemed normal in that regard.


    “You should rest now,” Evan suddenly said about mid morning.


    I looked over at him surprised. He pulled several cushions out of a bag andid them on the floor of the transport.


    “Lay down and rest,” he ordered.


    I did as he asked, but couldn’t really understand this. Bane wrapped a nket around me tucking me in securely. Christof pulled my hood up so it kept the sun from my eyes. They were acting so odd, but I was veryfortable on the cushions they had brought. The low hum of the transport soothed me and my eyes drifted closed.


    It would have seemed impossible for me to sleep on a transport in the middle of the day, but I did. I dreamed of baseball fields and little boys ying. In my mind’s eye I saw the life of a child ying out before me.


    “Time to eat, little Sister,” Bane whispered and I opened my eyes.


    My hood was pushed back as I sat up. The transport was stopped in the middle of nowhere. Everyone was off their transport and the men were pulling out something to eat.


    All the men sat on the ground and I sat on a cushion as we had the midday meal. Two of the other families stated they would have preferred to hunt for something to roast. They were rebuked by Damien. We could hunt for the evening meal, it was imperative we reach our destination before sunset.


    We ate and were off again. The same pattern repeated as in the morning. I stood with the men enjoying theirpany until Evan determined it was time to rest.


    “You know,” I said as Damien knelt over me, “I don’t have to sleep all the time. You’ve said yourself it’s good to be up when the sun is up. Talking with you all is very enjoyable to me.”


    Damien grinned at the sentiment. He pushed me until Iy down cocooned in the nkets and cushions. The nket was pushed up to my chin and around my legs.


    “We told Nu-reeh you were tired and it upset her. She wants you to rest,” he said.


    I settled on my hip and frowned. Training with them had been fun, but I guess that was over. Sleeping for the rest of this pregnancy would just make me fat and bored.


    “Tell me,” he ordered crouching beside me.


    “I liked training with you all,” I whined, “and I like swimming. If she makes me sleep all day every day I’ll go crazy. I can’t justy around all the time.”


    All five Brothers thought that was funny.


    “Nu-reeh wants you to rest now, because you are weak and tired,” Damien soothed. “You know she listens to the Healers and they like you active. I’m sure once you have recovered some she will allow us to continue to train you.”


    Kein spoke from behind the controls, “Or we’ll train you in our rooms at night,” he offered. “You don’t need to worry.”


    I rxed on the cushions and smiled up at Damien. They would take care of me.


    I dozed on and off as we flew. I heard the men talking above me. Their voices lulled me into a dreamy state of semi-consciousness.