“The words have spread,” Ratru’s Brother told us, “all the camps make the same weapons and they all use the new words. We are proud the names originated in our camp.”


    The smithy was located a transport ride away from the main living areas, deeper in the mountain. We went to a second smaller parking area deep in the mountain and got on arge transport that would take us.


    Rose and I rode with the men as Hannah and Ra flew behind us. The cave we were in got much hotter the deeper we went. I noted how high the ceiling rose and saw a slit at the top that must vent the heat. It didn’t surprise me when we passed over arge open pit of boilingva.


    “The women dip their spears and talons there,” Ratru exined as we soared past it.


    I smiled and nodded, I knew what that pit was for.


    We continued through a long tunnel before arriving in the area the men worked in to build weapons. I soon learned why we were so far from the main camp. Just after we parked our transport, an explosion shook the inside of the mountain and Hannah cursed.


    “They have been told and warned. Stay here until we sort this out,” she said loudly and then she and Ra flew ahead.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Several other women came flying by toward the sound. The seven of us left stood off to the side to get out of their way and waited. Luckily this parking area was well lit with torches.


    “What happened?” I asked as another smaller boom came from the area Hannah went into.


    “Rue and his Brothers have created terrible weapons,” Ratru told me standing and waiting. “They are so powerful the Administrators have specific times and ces they take them to test them. Those men aren’t supposed to do it in the smithy. It is too dangerous.”


    The name struck me. “I knew a Rue,” I said. “He and his Brothers were taken and held by Nu-reeh in the T’aran Mountains. They used to Keep me.”


    Ratru’s face was grave suddenly and he turned to look at me. “Rue and his Brothers were vers?” he asked seriously.


    “I don’t know if it’s the same men, but no, not really,” I said watching him.


    Somerge part of me wanted to lie and tell him yes, just to get Rue in trouble. Lying was probably really looked down on here, though.


    “No,” I reiterated, “Damien and his Brothers used Rue to Keep me before Hannah was born. I don’t think Rue’s family had any opinion either way on ves. They just wanted to know about Earth.”


    Ratru and his Brothers seemed torn. These men had obviously been taught to hate the men who kept ves.


    “How were they taken?” I asked trying to change the subject. “They were in the mountain with the womenst time I knew, if it is the same men.”


    “Oh, it’s probably the same family,” Ratru’s Brother said watching smoke suddenly billow from therge arched passageway ahead. “Rue and his Brothers got curious and explored the mines deep in the T’aran Mountains. Using wind and smoke they somehow found our secret, underground tunnels.”


    “They opened them,” Ratru said sounding amazed. “They figured out the levers and opened them. Once they were inside they closed the opening. It took them days, perhaps even a full moon, but they finally found an exit. Men from this camp found them wandering around in one of our fields.”


    I was shocked. “They made it all the way here, from the T’aran Mountains, on foot, and without any help?!”


    “They’re the smartest men we’ve ever met,” Ratru said with a slight frown. “The Administrators tolerate their mishaps because they are so good at what they do. If they are vers that will change how the men see them, though.”


    Another muffled explosion was heard and I sought to calm Ratru. “They did not have any interest in me as a ve. We talked and I told them things. Frankly, I think they were just curious about Earth. It wasn’t like they ….”


    It wasn’t clear to me why I was defending Rue and his Brothers. They had been assholes to me. I guessed it was because I hated to see anyone ostracized the way Damien and his Brothers were being.


    Also, the American side of me felt sorry for Rue and his family. Those men had been geniuses locked into a world that would not let them explore things. They’d been stifled for so long, this was probably a good change for them.


    The smoke died down and Hannah was suddenly waving us forward. I walked toward her and she was ranting at Ra.


    “Idiots,” she said in English, “how many times do we have to tell them the ore is unstable? It can power a weapon, but it cannot beunched from one!”


    “Sister,” Ra soothed, “you are so worked up you’re speaking in Mama’snguage.”


    “It’s them,” Hannah fumed, “I can barely stand them. You know how they treated…”


    Hannah stopped talking and took several deep breaths. She had obviously hidden the rtionship Rue had had with me. I wondered why she’d done that for these jerks and not her father. It piqued my temper.


    “Hannah, could I speak to you privately for just a moment?” I asked stepping back from the group.


    Hannah approached and leaned down waiting for the inevitable question.


    “You didn’t tell them, obviously, that Rue kept me as a ve for a time. Why did you have to tell them what your father did? Couldn’t it have been hidden somehow? Couldn’t you have convinced them somehow, so your father and I could be together?”


    Hannah looked seriously at me and crouched down so we were eye to eye. “I couldn’t hide what Daddy had done,” she said. “The men here have their opinions and nothing I said could change them. I really do believe that you have be too used to your role and need help to regain your independence…”


    The next part was said in a whisper, so quiet I had to strain to hear.


    “I love my family,” she said, “and I want to see you all happy and together. If you work hard and Daddy does, too, I think I can help. It will take time and you must all grow, but it can be done.”


    I saw the glint in her eyes. She hadn’t given up on us, but she’d publicly done everything correctly. This wasn’t over yet.


    “Thank you, Baby Girl,” I whispered.


    Hannah just winked at me as she stood.


    The forge was a mess and I saw where the ident must have happened. There was a smoldering work area along one wall. Rue and his Brothers were there picking up pieces of what looked like arge cannon and cursing. Reed and Hassar were there exining loudly that the ore could NOT be ignited andunched. Only power could be projected out safely, power derived from the ore. The ore itself is just too unstable.


    Rue got on a chair so he was Reed’s height and yelled at her. Therge room was silent watching the loud confrontation.


    “The only reason you KNOW that the ore’s power can beunched is because we did it. I am telling you the ore itself could be used as a powerful weapon. If you limit our studies we will never determine how to do it!” he shouted.


    “You do not have to take that tone with me,” Reed said calmly. “If you want to study the ore that way, you must petition the Administrators. Allow us to look over your ns and give you a safe-”


    Rue exploded. He yelled and screamed saying he would not allow his family to be limited anymore. It was a tantrum and hisck of control shocked me.


    Hassar started to speak next and Rue’s family just yelled louder. The confrontation was interrupted as Gunth and his Brothers entered the workspace. Gunth took a firm,manding tone with Rue and it seemed to work. The younger man stopped yelling and got off his chair.


    Ratru was whispering in my ear suddenly, “Men raised in thepounds do not work well with the women,” he informed me. “They never learned to talk with the women, they mostly react with either fear or undeserved hostility. They listen to the male Administrators better. We were warned and try to not be like that. It advertises your origins as a man from thepounds. Free men do not behave that way. Rue often forgets himself in front of the women.”


    He was right. As we stood and watched, Rue calmed instantly listening to Gunth. Rue and his Brothers even agreed to stop the testing and submit a request to the Administrators. They did everything Reed had asked, just not for her.


    “Come,” Ratru said directing us toward the area the sword makers worked in.


    Rose and I both were measured for swords. Ratru and his Brothers, under the lead smith, would make weapons for us. It took the men time to realize what weight would work for us and what length. Rose and I were markedly weaker than even the weakest man.


    Hannah took Rose and me back to the main area of the camp once we were done. My daughter looked troubled and I was concerned. My worry was forgotten as soon as I saw Kennedy walking toward us.


    I rushed to hug my second daughter and her sisters. Kennedy hugged me, but looked over my head at Hannah.


    “We haven’t taken her to the viewing room yet,” Hannah said and Kennedy sighed.


    I looked between them and saw Kennedy’s mouth draw tight around her fangs.


    Hannah spoke and it was certainly defensive, “I had to tell her about Daddy, this one is yours.”


    I didn’t know what they were talking about until Kennedy demanded that Hannah go get Evan. I would want him present for this.


    Tears ran down my face and I knew something had happened to my boy. My little Jonathan had to be the reason for all this. In my panic I couldn’t even hear them talking, until Rose scolded them loudly for scaring me.


    “Is he hurt?” I asked looking between Kennedy and her Sisters. “Is he dead? Did the women torture him?”