Chapter 400

Rue had explained in an exaggerated fashion how to aim the weapons, since I had missed, which was actually unusual for me. His brothers laughed as he repeated his instructions. They commented about how slow and stupid I was. I heard the remarks and couldn’t resist.

“So,” I asked loudly, “will you lock me in a box overnight for this? Perhaps there is another punishment you would like to inflict on me, KEEPER?”

The training ground was suddenly silent as the men around us registered the comment.

“Why do you call these men keepers?” a man asked from the side. He was a rescued man from the Barnas compound. That word had meaning to him.

I crossed my arms and stared at Rue with open malevolence. “Didn’t you tell them how you used to keep slaves in exchange for stones? Aren’t you proud of your role in supporting slavery in the compounds?”

“For stones!” Rue’s brother said loudly, “We never used you for your purpose or showed any interest in you.”

“Slavery