"So you're not mad?" I asked.
"Oh, I'm livid," he promised, "but never at you. I'm enraged that Felicity did nothing wrong, but still paid the price. If that is not proof of evil, then I can't imagine what more any of us need." Then he caught my hand, squeezed once, and turned for our own suite.
It was a struggle not to run. Instead, I simply stretched my legs, walking like a woman on a mission. No one tried to stop me, and when I stepped into the wives' laundry, the room was packed and voices were already buzzing.
"She's going to need to eat!" someone was insisting.
"Not today," another woman said. "If we're caught taking a meal to her, can you imagine how that would go? We'll be the ones receiving punishment next!"
"I'll do it," I said.
The voices stilled and everyone turned to me. "What?" Juness asked.
"I will take her food," I said, moving into the center of the room. "My husband will not punish me. My husband can be trusted. I have learned he's not the only one, but those of us with good men should use it to help others."
"They are only good until their patience is pushed," one of the older wives pointed out. I was sure she had to be at least thirty.
"ButIam good," I said. "I don't care about the evil of others. I cannot control that, but Felicity stood up for us, so the least I cando is make sure she does not suffer any more than she already has."
"What if Mr. Saunders finds out?" Zuriah asked, proving she was here. "Will Mr. Warren be punished?"
Ducking my head, I pulled in a deep breath. "The surface is green," I told them. "The world above is not burning with the fires of Hell. It is green, and that means we've been lied to." I turned, making sure everyone was listening. "We're not supposed to know that, butIdo. I know there is a life better than this. I know that God intended it for us. I also know that while the meek will inherit the earth, God commanded that we speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves."
"I'll get a meal for her," Puah offered. "You can deliver it."
I waved her down. "No, I will be fine, but this? This is proof we have more power here than we've realized. Mere words angered Mr. Saunders. Why? Is it because they were right?"
"Because they know their power is based on a lie," Juness mumbled.
I nodded. "And as long as we obey without question, stay meek and subservient, they can keep that power." I turned to survey the room again. "But theyneedus. Without us, there will be no more Righteous. Without us, there will be no more meals, or clothes, or clean dishes. Without us, the men are helpless."
"But without them, we are too!" someone wailed.
"And yet the world is green," I said. "I know we're all scared. I know we have all been punished far too much, but this is not all there is. So each one of you needs to think about that. Do we continue to avoid the pain now and suffer silently for all eternity? Or do we dare to believe the words we're supposed to live by and actually take a chance to do what isright?"
I didn't wait for their answer. None of these women would have one yet. They needed to think about it, to debate therisk I was asking them to take, because it was a big risk. That punishment could end our lives.
But to me, this was not a life worth living, not with real freedom so close - and waiting.
Fifty-Six
Zasen
Ayla and I went out hunting twice more. I invited Kanik once, since he was decent enough at it, but he smiled at Ayla and said he wouldn't want to kill the mood. She'd blushed, but once we were in the trees, she'd also taken my hand. Feeling her delicate fingers wrap around some of mine? I liked that a lot more than I wanted to admit.
Sadly, that was where my seduction ended, but only because the game had been bountiful. Eriska had explained to me that Reapers only hunted in one direction each season. That gave three years for the other directions to replenish, and this year had been toward the Moles, west of the Reaper's camp. Combined with the small number of people in their clan, it made sense why there was more than enough food available for this.
And we hadn't been the only ones having luck. I also didn't want to hold the meat so long it began to spoil. The kitchen had been cleaning the carcasses for us and letting them rest, but we'd reached the point where we wouldn't be able to haul any more, so I asked the chief to call a meeting.
That morning, she'd lit a bonfire in the middle of their camp. The four of us had headed there together, but when Ayla tookRymar's hand? The smile on that man's face made it clear he was falling hard for our partner, and it looked damned good on him.
But just as we neared the seating put out for this little meeting, someone called out, "Pepper!"
Ayla's new dog paused, lagging behind for a second. Ayla noticed immediately, but I'd already turned, trying to see who'd recognized her. There, jogging toward us was a man.
"Hey, girl!" he crooned, grinning at the dog.
Rymar leaned toward Ayla's ear and said something to her. A smile immediately took over her face. "Moldan, right?" she asked.
