“My queen told me they all came from the breeding pens,” I say
“These women are not fragile flowers who will crumble at any man’s attention. We knew what we signed up for when we met Estela outside the Zlosian Palace.”
I look at her skeptically. “Not everyone seemed happy in that room with Estela.”
She shrugs. “They just finally have a voice. Don’t fault them for wanting to use it. But that doesn’t mean they don’t want to be here.”
Every Enduar watches her with almost painful intensity, and she takes every inch of attention with practiced grace.
“Estela is a wonderful woman, but she was never in the breeding pens.“ She looks at each man there with her black-brown eyes. “They consisted of a large expanse of rooms. Women were kept in close quarters, unable to work or leave for a period of four months while their cycles, temperatures, andbodies were monitored closely for signs that it was time for them to be placed in a room with a man.
“Then, they are left there for three days. Once the man is spent, the women are returned to their beds. If they are pregnant, they are gifted a hut. Some men go along with it, while others beat their women. Some forced them into any manner of painful positions.”
She speaks slowly, and I fist my hands, doing my best to hold back the mounting rage.
It hurts to think of anyone being treated in such a way. Each of the men looks up, utterly silent. They all hold similar expressions of disgust.
“Sothatis where all of these women come from—four small walls. Sure, they are wounded, some already carry children, and they all are tired, but don’t think for a second they aren’t strong. They want what Estela has promised—homes, mates, families—lives where they work for what they eat and nothing more,” she says.
Keio steps forward. “I will gladly care for a woman with a child. I spent all of last night arranging my things, and there is space.”
I step forward. “You do not even know if you will be mated to one.”
He shakes his head.
“I do not care.”
I raise my hands. “No one will claim any of the humans without a mating song that the woman has accepted. No men will touch the women unless they ask for it.”
Niht looks offended. “My King, this is already known. We don’t need your lectures.”
I shake my head. “Has Melisa not just explained the hell they have spent days living through? My Estela was a furiouscreature when she came to the mountain. I do not know how these women will react, but you must move slowly. And if I hear of even one single misstep, you will be banished from this court.”
There is silence all around.
“May we attend the ceremony tomorrow?” Faol asks.
I know their meaning. They wish to know if their crystals will sing.
I purse my lips.
“No. Undoubtedly, some of you will have mates in this group—but I have no way of knowing how many. Give it time.” I am pleased when even Melisa nods at this.
There is anxious shuffling all around, but I put it aside.
“Anything else?”
Vann, who has been tight-lipped since we walked to the training area, nods. It’s a short movement, almost imperceptible. It tells me he has something that he does not wish to speak of in front of others.
“You all may go back to your duties. We need extra meat for our newcomers,” I say.
“And soon, new sources of food because theruh’glumdlorpopulation won’t keep up, and the humans don’t like bats or spiders,” Keio grumbles.
Annoyed, I swat at him. “That is true. You should solve that while skinning the next cave rat and tell Ra'Salore.”
There are a few laughs, and I hear the wordRa’Saleave the mouth of another. I don’t have time to dwell on that before Vann takes me by the arm and pulls me away.
“What is it?” I ask, noting that Faol follows us as we walk.
