I smiled at my friend and touched his arm. My family was rarely defeated in battle. Looking at the line of men facing us, I knew how outnumbered they had been. There had to be forty men over there. If some new weapon was involved, then their defeat made even more sense.


    Stayne’s voice got all our attention a momentter. He addressed Gunth and he did it very politely.


    “We are happy to take your kind invitation to visit your camp,” he said facing Gunth. “My Brothers and I only ask this female be left in our care for the remainder of the trip.”


    “No,” Gunth said sounding irritated, “that is not a ve and you are not owners. You may not keep her. Release her and allow her to be free.”N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Stayne and his brothers separated, so Fuji faced the men. Thom and his family approached her, intent on taking her away. The tail was out as soon as their intent became evident.


    I watched as a lock of Fuji’s vibrant hair dropped off her head and fluttered to the ground. The men saw it too and stopped moving toward her. They looked back at Gunth as though seeking direction.


    “She fears you,” Stayne said nonchntly. “When her kind are taken by the conquering side on her home they are treated with great indignity. The hair falls out only when safety is supremely threatened.”


    I heard the horrified sounds the men behind Gunth were making. Several stated that must have been what Stayne had told her they would do. Stayne just grunted augh at that.


    “My Brothers and I have put much effort into keeping this small creature healthy and fit. We know every nuance of her makeup. It would bring us no pleasure to see her destroyed. We are aware it could be done simply. You would do it and not even know,” Stayne said coolly.


    “The clicking,” Gunth asked fiercely, “what was that?”


    “When this creature will give her life in battle, she warns the opponent. That sound is well recognized on her home. It is considered honorable on her world to tell yourbatant if you would die for your cause,” Stayne said simply.


    No one really knew what to say to that. It could be the truth and it might not be. Stayne and his Brothers were the only ones here with any knowledge about Fuji.


    “Humans,” Gunth said directing hisment to Rose and me, “speak to me honestly, is this true?”


    I didn’t know and looked at Damien. He patted my back and gestured to Gunth.


    “Answer the man,” he said simply, “just tell him what you know.”


    “I’m not sure, Sir,” I told him hesitantly. “I’ve never heard that sound from her before and I’ve only seen her tail twice. Fuji has rarely spoken to me about her home.”


    The men stared at Rose and I. Finally, Gunth spoke.


    “The red haired one, Fuji, for now, may stay near her… former owners,” thest word seemed to be forced from his very depths. “The humans will be watched over by men of my choosing.”


    I gripped Damien’s sleeve and Rose grabbed Basin.


    “If you cannot let your former ves go,” Gunth said to Damien and Basin, “we will send you back to yourpound and keep the women. We have no use for those of your mindset in our camp.”


    My eyes went wide as I stepped toward Gunth. Rose walked quickly to me and took my hand. Neither of us wanted to be the reason our men were sent back to the ve pen.


    “Basin and his Brothers don’t think that way,” Rose said softly.


    “Neither do Damien and his Brothers,” I added as we walked away from our families. “I told you, I am not a ve of theirs, only Nu-reeh’s. My family set me free and trained me to fight with a sword. Do Masters normally train ves to sword fight?”


    I looked up and watched carefully as we approached Gunth. The big man seemed absolutely unmoved by my words. His mind was set on the matter of my family.


    I wondered what his next move would be. It was to be a lesson.


    “The first thing,” he said as we settled in front of him, “that you both must do is look around.”


    Rose was gripping my hand and staring at the ground. She was acting just like she’d been trained to. Despite our strange circumstances it took her a long time to look up into Gunth’s face.


    “Good,” he smiled once she finally made eye contact with him. “You are a free woman now. No one will tell you where to walk and you must be alert for any danger that may approach you.”


    Rose looked at me and I saw the tears in her eyes. This experience was terrifying her. She couldn’t wrap her mind around what Gunth was telling her. From her perspective it made no sense.


    “Next,” Gunth continued amicably, “we will greet one another. I am a free man and always have been, so I know the ce of my birth. I will tell you my name and my origin. It is expected you answer me the same way.”


    We stood and stared at the man as he introduced himself as Gunth from the T’scar Mountains. He went on to introduce his Brothers next. The family was strong and powerful, but obviously older than everyone else here. They all smiled at us in greeting.


    “Now you do it,” Gunth ordered.


    I took the challenge first and introduced myself. “I am Ciara from Eart-” I started to say and was interrupted.


    “Gunth wants your free name,” Thom interjected. “He doesn’t wish to know what the vers called you.”


    “I like my name,” I said softly. “It is a good name, Sir…”


    Gunth interrupted me to remind me I was not a ve.


    “I am not Sir. You must use my name. You are no longer controlled by owners and I will leave them here if I continue to see signs of their prior control. Now please introduce yourself as a free woman,” Gunth said in amanding tone.


    I flushed and was embarrassed. “Gunth, my name is Rachel,” I said very softly, “and I am from Earth.”


    Rose was stubborn, first she wouldn’t speak and when she did she refused to be called Ruth. Her cheeks flushed and she demanded to be allowed to stay with Basin. Tears streaked down her cheeks when Gunth told her no.